2. William Stromberg & Moscow Symphony Orch. – “Universal Signature”
from: Salter – Skinner: Monster Music / Marco-Polo / 1995
[Frank Skinner was a composer & arranger born in Meredosia, Illinois on Dec. 31, 1897. He died in Beverly Hills, California, Oct. 9, 1968. A graduate of the Chicago Musical College (now the Chicago Conservatory of Music), 16-year-old Frank found employment in vaudeville and began playing in local areas with his brother Carl on drums billed as the Skinner Brothers dance band. He began writing and arranging music for dance bands in New York, from 1925 to 1935, arranging 2000 popular songs for Robbins Publishing. After a short period at MGM, working on musical settings for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Skinner was hired by Universal Studios. Over the course of his 30 years there, he composed music for more than 200 films earning five Academy Award nominations (1938–43). His distinctive approach to scoring horror films, such as Son of Frankenstein (1939) and The Wolf Man (1941), has been characterized as a ‘passion for chromatic lines … mirrored contours … [and] restrained, yet ominously mythical orchestrations’ (Marcello). He gained new recognition in the 1950s for his lush romantic scores, including those for such Douglas Sirk films as Magnificent Obsession (1954) and Written on the Wind (1956). Despite many changes in the film industry, his book Underscore (1950) has survived as an excellent introduction to film music composition. The Wolf Man is a 1941 American drama horror film written by Curt Siodmak and produced and directed by George Waggner. The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as a werewolf named “The Wolf Man” and features Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Béla Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya in supporting roles. The title character has had a great deal of influence on Hollywood’s depictions of the legend of the werewolf. The film is the second Universal Pictures werewolf film, preceded six years earlier by the less commercially successful Werewolf of London (1935). Lon Chaney, Jr. would reprise his classic role as “The Wolf Man” in four sequels, beginning with Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man in 1943.]

4. Sonic Youth – “Youth Against Facism”
from: Dirty (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] / Interscope – Geffen / July 21, 1992
[Sonic Youth was based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) followed a series of short-term drummers in 1985, and rounded out the core line-up. Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental no wave art and music scene in New York before evolving into a more conventional rock band and becoming the most prominent of the American noise rock groups. Sonic Youth have been praised for having “redefined what rock guitar could do” using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings and preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments’ timbre. The band is considered to be a pivotal influence on the alternative and indie rock movements. After gaining a large underground following and critical praise through releases with SST Records in the late 1980s, the band experienced mainstream success throughout the 1990s and 2000s after signing to major label DGC in 1990 and headlining the 1995 Lollapalooza festival. In 2011, Ranaldo announced that the band was “ending for a while” following the separation of married couple Gordon and Moore. Thurston Moore updated and clarified the position in May 2014: “Sonic Youth is on hiatus. The band is a democracy of sorts, and as long as Kim and I are working out our situation, the band can’t really function reasonably.” Gordon refers several times in her 2015 autobiography Girl in a Band to the band having “split up”. Dirty is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Sonic Youth. It was released on July 21, 1992 by record label DGC. The band recorded and produced the album with Butch Vig in early 1992 at the Magic Shop studios. The sound on Dirty was inspired by the grunge scene of the time, and was described as avant-rock. Some songs on the album mark the first appearance of three guitars in Sonic Youth songs. The album was remastered and released on quadruple vinyl and double CD in 2003. The album spawned four singles. The first single was “100%”; it charted well, but was not the crossover hit the label anticipated. The next was “Youth Against Fascism”, which did not chart well. The last two were “Sugar Kane” and “Drunken Butterfly”, released in 1993. “Sugar Kane” did better commercially than “Youth Against Fascism”. The album sold exceptionally well, reaching No. 6 in the UK Albums Chart (their highest charting album in the UK) and No. 83 in the US. In support of the album, the band embarked on the “Pretty Fucking Dirty” tour of 1992 and 1993, where most of Dirty was played. In late 1992, they toured North America, and in early 1993, they toured New Zealand and Australia.]

5. St. Vincent – “Fear The Future (Piano Version)”
from: MassEducation / Loma Vista – Concord Music / October 12, 2018
[“MassEducation” a brand new acoustic rendition of her previous album Masseduction, Clark’s fifth studio album, was released in October 2017. Pitchfork writes: “Recorded over two days at Manhattan’s Reservoir Studios studios, MassEducation strips its hypersexual, neon-clad predecessor for parts, exposing its songs as tales of longing and nostalgia. Clark seemed to always know that her record contained two lives: “This needs to be something people can really dance to,” she said of a song on her last album, “until they listen to the words and then they’re crying.” Hiding melancholy behind pop production is nothing new, but on an album so saturated with sadness, these pared-down renderings give Clark a chance to indulge in their underlying sentiments.” Anne Erin Clark was born September 28, 1982, in Tulsa Oklahoma. She is known professionally as St. Vincent, a musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. After studying at Berklee College of Music for three years, she began her music career as a member of The Polyphonic Spree. Clark was also a member of Sufjan Stevens’s touring band before forming her own band in 2006. St. Vincent’s work has received consistent praise for its distinct musical style, which blends soft rock, experimental rock, electropop, and jazz influences. Her debut album was Marry Me (2007), followed by Actor (2009), Strange Mercy (2011), St. Vincent (2014), and Masseduction (2017). She released a collaborative album with David Byrne in 2012 titled Love This Giant. Clark also contributed backing vocals for Swans on their 2014 album, To Be Kind. Her fourth solo album, the eponymous St. Vincent, was named album of the year by The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly, NME, and Slant Magazine, as well as second best album of the year by Time magazine. The album won her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album, her first Grammy award. She was the first solo female performer in 20 years to win a Grammy in that category.]

3. Ed Wood – “Plan 9 From Outer Space (Trailer)”
from: Halloween Nuggets: Monster Sixties A Go-Go / Rock Beat / 2014
[Plan 9 from Outer Space (originally titled Grave Robbers from Outer Space) is a 1959 American B & W science fiction horror film. The film was written, produced, directed and edited by Ed Wood, and stars Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tor Johnson, Vampira and posthumously bills Bela Lugosi. Shortly after Lugosi’s death the story and screenplay for Grave Robbers from Outer Space were written and finalized, with Wood planning to use the unconnected, unrelated footage of Lugosi as a means of putting a credit for him on the picture. Wood used the Lugosi footage as a means of attracting actors to the picture, by saying to them that he was making “Bela Lugosi’s last movie.” Though Wood’s actions were driven in part by the desire to give his film a ‘star name’ and attract horror fans, the Lugosi cameo was also meant as a loving tribute and farewell to the actor, who had become fast friends with Wood in the last three years of Lugosi’s life. Wood hired his wife’s chiropractor, Tom Mason, as a stand-in for Lugosi, even though Mason was taller than Lugosi and bore no resemblance to him, making him one of the earliest “fake Shemps”. Narration from Criswell was also employed in an attempt to better link Lugosi’s footage with the rest of Plan 9. Every last scrap of material Wood had of Lugosi was utilized in the theatrical cut of the film, including what are minor sprocket discolorations, film trims that would in a normal film be discarded as unusable. Cuts of the film on VHS during the 80s and 90s, the vast majority unauthorized bootleg dupes, varied drastically not only in quality but also in the amount of Lugosi material retained.]

Michael McQuary as Béla Lugosi on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

10:10 – Interview with Béla Lugosi

We have the grand pleasure of welcoming back to our radio show the star of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” his last film and his 108th film, from his 5 decades as an actor.

Béla Lugosi – Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley!

Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (Oct. 20, 1882 – Aug 16, 1956), known as Bela Lugosi, a Hungarian-American actor. He’d been playing small parts in his native Hungary before making his first film in 1917, but left after the failed Hungarian Revolution. In 1927, he appeared as Count Dracula in a Broadway adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. He later appeared in the classic 1931 film Dracula by Universal Pictures. He was often paired with Boris Karloff, who was able to demand top billing. To his frustration, Lugosi was increasingly restricted to minor parts, kept employed by the studio principally for the sake of his name on the posters. Among his pairings with Karloff, only in The Black Cat (1934), The Raven (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939) did he perform major roles again. Lugosi had been receiving regular medication for sciatic neuritis, and he became addicted to morphine and methadone. This drug dependence was noted by producers, and the offers eventually dwindled down to a few parts in Ed Wood’s low-budget movies, most notably Plan 9 from Outer Space. Lugosi was married five times, and had one son, Bela George Lugosi. Lugosi was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Lugosi was also the subject of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, the first single by the English band Bauhaus. Released in August 1979, it is often considered to be the first gothic rock record.

Andy Warhol’s 1963 silkscreen The Kiss depicts Lugosi from Dracula about to bite into the neck of co-star Helen Chandler, who played Mina Harker. A copy sold for $798,000 at Christie’s in May 2000.

10:12 – Haunted Recordings

7. The Velvet Underground– “Black Angel’s Death Song (Album Version-Stereo)”
from: The Velvet Underground & Nico (45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) / Universal Records / 2012 [Orig. March 12, 1967]
[The Velvet Underground & Nico is the debut album by American rock band the Velvet Underground and vocal collaborator Nico, released in March 1967 by Verve Records. Recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, The Velvet Underground & Nico would gain attention for its experimental performance sensibilities, as well as the focus on controversial subject matter expressed in many of its songs including drug abuse, prostitution, sadism and masochism and sexual deviancy. In 1982, musician Brian Eno famously stated that while The Velvet Underground & Nico initially only sold 30,000 copies, “everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band.” Though it was a commercial failure upon release and was almost completely ignored by critics at the time, the record has since become one of the most influential and critically acclaimed rock albums in history, appearing at number thirteen on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time as well as being added to the 2006 National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. “I’ll Be Your Mirror” is a song by The Velvet Underground. It appeared on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. It also surfaced as a single a year earlier with “All Tomorrow’s Parties” in 1966. Lou Reed wrote the song for Nico, who provides lead vocals. Inspiration for the song apparently came about after Nico approached Reed after a show in 1965 saying, “Oh Lou, I’ll be your mirror.” The song was a favorite of Reed’s and The Velvet Underground & Nico engineer, Norman Dolph.]

8. Laurie Anderson – “Three Ghosts”
from: Heart of a Dog / Nonesuch / October 23, 2015
[The complete soundtrack recording of Laurie Anderson’s film, Heart of a Dog. Anderson was commissioned by the European TV network Arte to create a feature film — her first in 30 years. Her response was a personal essay entitled Heart of a Dog, a work encompassing joy and heartbreak and remembering and forgetting, at the heart of which is a lament for her late beloved piano-playing and finger-painting dog Lolabelle. Scenes range from realistic footage from the animal’s life to imagined scenes of Lolabelle’s passage through the bardo. It also includes other reflections on life and death including Anderson’s experiences in life in downtown New York after 9/11. The Nonesuch album is the full audio recording of the film, including all music and spoken text. Heart of a Dog has been shown at the Telluride, Venice, and Toronto Film Festivals to critical praise, with the New York Times calling it a “philosophically astute, emotionally charged meditation on death, love, art and dogs.” The movie was screened at the New York Film Festival on October 8, 2015, before opening theatrically at New York’s Film Forum October 21, 2015. It was also shown on HBO. ]

9. Nina Simone -“Save Me”
from: Silk and Soul / RCA / 1967
[Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933. She died on April 21, 2003. Nina Simone was a singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist who worked in a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop. Born in North Carolina, the sixth child of a preacher, Simone aspired to be a concert pianist. With the help of the few supporters in her hometown of Tryon, North Carolina, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in NYC. Simone recorded more than 40 albums.”]

Michael McQuary as Béla Lugosi on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

10:24 – More Interview with Béla Lugosi.

We have the pleasure of welcoming back to our radio show the star of over 100 films, from his 5 decades as an actor. Bela Lugosi (1882–1956), best known for the original screen portrayal of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1931.

Béla Lugosi Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley!

Béla Lugosi’s last film, “Plan 9 From Outer Space” featured Maila Nurmi (Dec. 11, 1922 – Jan. 10, 2008) a Finnish-American actress born in Petsamo, Finland, who created the campy character Vampira. She portrayed Vampira as TV’s first horror host. She is also billed as Vampira in the 1959 movie The Beat Generation where she plays a beatnik poet.

Bela Lugosi also starred in, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, a 1948 American horror comedy film directed by Charles Barton starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The picture is the first of several films where the comedy duo meets classic characters from Universal’s horror film stable. In this film, they encounter Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange), and the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney, Jr.), while subsequent films pair the duo with the Mummy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the Invisible Man. On a TV special in the early 1950s, the two did a sketch where they interacted with the latest original Universal Studios monster being promoted at the time, the Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). The film is considered the swan song for the “Big Three” Universal horror monsters – Count Dracula, the Wolf Man and Frankenstein’s monster, none of whom had appeared in a Universal film since 1945’s House of Dracula.

Bela Lugosi (1882–1956), best known for the original screen portrayal of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1931, was in a large number of movies during the course of his career.

In Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, Lugosi is portrayed by Martin Landau, who received the 1994 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the performance. According to Bela G. Lugosi (his son), Forrest Ackerman, Dolores Fuller and Richard Sheffield, the film’s portrayal of Lugosi is inaccurate: In real life, he never used profanity, owned small dogs, or slept in coffins. And contrary to this film, Bela did not struggle performing on The Red Skelton Show.

Lugosi was married five times, and had one son, Bela George Lugosi.
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum in NYC features a live 30-minute play that focuses on Lugosi’s illegal entry into the USA and then his arrival at Ellis Island to enter legally.
Béla Lugosi Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley!

11. Kenneth Alwyn — “The Bride of Frankenstein (Main Title)”
from: The Bride of Frankenstein (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) / Silva America / 1993
[The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Alwyn. The Bride of Frankenstein is a 1935 horror film, sequel to Universal Pictures’ 1931 hit Frankenstein directed by James Whale with Boris Karloff as The Monster, Elsa Lanchester in the dual role of his mate and Mary Shelley, Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein, and Ernest Thesiger as Doctor Septimus Pretorius. The film is rooted in a subplot of the original Mary Shelley novel, Frankenstein (1818). In the film, a chastened Henry Frankenstein abandons his plans to create life, only to be tempted and finally coerced by the Monster, encouraged by Henry’s old mentor Dr. Pretorius, into constructing a mate for him. Bride of Frankenstein was released to critical and popular acclaim, although it encountered difficulties with some state and national censorship boards. Since its release the film’s reputation has grown, and it has been hailed as Whale’s masterpiece. Director James Whale met Franz Waxman at a party and asked him to score the picture. “Nothing will be resolved in this picture except the end destruction scene. Would you write an unresolved score for it?” asked Whale. Waxman created three distinctive themes: one for the Monster; one for the Bride; and one for Pretorius. The score closes, at Whale’s suggestion, with a powerful dissonant chord, intended to convey the idea that the on-screen explosion was so powerful that the theater where the film was being screened was affected by it. Constantin Bakaleinikoff conducted 22 musicians to record the score in a single nine-hour session.]

12. Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers — “Monster Mash”
from: The Original Monster Mash / Decca / August 1, 1962
[“Monster Mash” is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby “Boris” Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton’s Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes. The “Monster Mash” single was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 20–27 of that year, just before Halloween. It has been a perennial holiday favorite ever since. Pickett was an aspiring actor who sang with a band called the Cordials at night while going to auditions during the day. One night, while performing with his band, Pickett did a monologue in imitation of horror movie actor Boris Karloff while performing the Diamonds’ “Little Darlin'”. The audience loved it, and fellow band member Lenny Capizzi encouraged Pickett to do more with the Karloff imitation. Pickett and Capizzi composed “Monster Mash” and recorded it with Gary S. Paxton, pianist Leon Russell, Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as “The Crypt-Kickers”. (Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, is sometimes credited with playing on the record as well, while Russell, who arrived late for the session, appears on the single’s B-side, “Monster Mash Party”.) The song was partially inspired by Paxton’s earlier novelty hit “Alley Oop”, as well as by the Mashed Potato dance craze of the era. A variation on the Mashed Potato was danced to “Monster Mash”, in which the footwork was the same but Frankenstein-style monster gestures were made with the arms and hands. The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from his slab to perform a new dance. The dance becomes “the hit of the land” when the scientist throws a party for other monsters. The producers came up with several low-budget but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw, and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. In addition to narrating the song in the Karloff voice, Pickett also impersonated fellow horror film actor Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula with the line, “Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?” The song was re-released several times and appeared in the U.S. Billboard charts on two occasions after the original release: August 1970 and May 1973. The BBC had banned the record from airplay in 1962 on the grounds that the song was “too morbid”. It was re-released in the United Kingdom in 1973, where it peaked at #3 in early October. In the U.S. the record re-entered the Hot 100 on May 5, 1973, peaking at #10 on August 11. On the September 15, 1973 edition of American Top 40, Casey Kasem mistakenly said that the record had accumulated 40 weeks on the Hot 100, which then would have been the all-time record, only for a listener to inform Kasem later that the record’s three weeks on the Hot 100 in 1970 had been included in the 1973 run, thus reducing the total to 37 weeks. The record has not charted on the Hot 100 since then. To celebrate the 1973 release, Bobby and the Crypt-Kickers toured Dallas and St. Louis around the 1973 Halloween holiday. On this tour, the Crypt-Kickers were composed of Brian Ray (now guitarist with Paul McCartney), drummer Brian Englund, keyboardist Don Chambers, singer Jean Ray, and others. “Monster Mash” re-entered the British charts again on November 2, 2008 at #60. “Monsters’ Holiday”, a Christmas-themed follow up, was recorded by Pickett and released in December 1962, peaking at #30 on the Billboard chart. The tune was penned by the renowned novelty song composer Paul Harrison. In 1985, with American culture experiencing a growing awareness of rap music, Pickett released “Monster Rap”, which describes the mad scientist’s frustration at being unable to teach the dancing monster from “Monster Mash” how to talk. The problem is solved when he teaches the monster to rap. A movie musical based on the song starring Pickett was released in 1995. During the 2004 presidential election, Pickett turned the song into a campaign video and retitled it “Monster Slash,” with lyrics by environmental campaigner Peter Altman, which critiqued President George W. Bush’s environmental policies. The “Transylvania Twist,” mentioned in the lyrics of “Monster Mash,” was written into a full song for the film Spookley the Square Pumpkin (Pickett narrated) and performed by The Honeydoos, a Pointer Sisters-like girl group of singing melons. The backing singers for the record were The Blossoms, led by Darlene Love.]

Michael McQuary as Boris Karloff on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

10:36 – Interview with Boris Karloff

Joining us now, in our 90.1 FM Radio studios is a giant star of stage & screen, an english actor who had already acted in eighty films before being found by director James Whale and cast in his 81st role as Frankenstein’s monster in the classic 1931 film Frankenstein. The role propelled him to stardom. Boris Karloff went on star in Bride of Frankenstein in 1935, and Son of Frankenstein in 1939. He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy in 1932.

Boris Karloff Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on November 23, 1887, at 36 Forest Hill Road, Camberwell, Surrey (now London), England, but Pratt stated that he was born in nearby Dulwich. His parents were Edward John Pratt, Jr. and Eliza Sarah Millard. His brother, Sir John Thomas Pratt, was a British diplomat. His mother’s maternal aunt was Anna Leonowens, whose tales about life in the royal court of Siam (now Thailand) were the basis of the musical The King and I. Pratt was bow-legged, had a lisp, and stuttered as a young boy. He conquered his stutter, but not his lisp, which was noticeable throughout his career in the film industry.

Pratt spent his childhood years in Enfield, in the County of Middlesex. He was the youngest of nine children, and following his mother’s death was brought up by his elder siblings. He received his early education at Enfield Grammar School, and later at the private schools of Uppingham School and Merchant Taylors’ School. After this, he attended King’s College London where he took studies aimed at a career with the British Government’s Consular Service. However, in 1909, he left university without graduating and drifted, departing England for Canada, where he worked as a farm labourer and did various odd itinerant jobs until happening upon acting.

Karloff acted in eighty movies before being found by James Whale and cast in his eighty-first movie, Frankenstein. Karloff’s role as Frankenstein’s monster in Frankenstein propelled him to stardom. The bulky costume with four-inch platform boots made it an arduous role but the costume and extensive makeup produced the classic image.
The costume was a job in itself for Karloff with the shoes weighing 11 pounds each. Universal Studios was quick to acquire ownership of the copyright to the makeup format for the Frankenstein monster that Jack P. Pierce had designed. Karloff was soon cast as Imhotep who is revived in The Mummy, a mute butler in The Old Dark House (with Charles Laughton) and the starring role in The Mask of Fu Manchu, which were all released within a few months of each other in late 1932. These films confirmed Karloff’s stardom. 5′ 11″, brown-eyed Karloff still played roles in other genres besides horror, such as a religious World War I soldier in the John Ford epic The Lost Patrol (1934).

Horror, however, had now become Karloff’s primary genre, and he gave a string of lauded performances in Universal’s horror films, including several with Bela Lugosi, his main rival as heir to Lon Chaney’s status as the leading horror film star. While the long-standing, creative partnership between Karloff and Lugosi never led to a close friendship, it produced some of the actors’ most revered and enduring productions, beginning with The Black Cat (1934) and continuing with Gift of Gab (1934), The Raven (1935) and The Invisible Ray (1936). Karloff reprised the role of Frankenstein’s monster in two further films, Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939), the latter also featuring Lugosi, with Basil Rathbone replacing Colin Clive as the scientist playing god. Rathbone appeared with Karloff again in Tower of London (1939) as the murderous henchman of King Richard III. Karloff revisited the Frankenstein mythos in several later films as well, taking the starring role of the villainous Dr. Niemann in House of Frankenstein (1944), in which the monster was played by Glenn Strange. He reprised the role of the “mad scientist” in 1958’s Frankenstein 1970 as Baron Victor von Frankenstein II, the grandson of the original creator. The finale reveals that the crippled Baron has given his own face (i.e., Karloff’s) to the monster.

10:41 – Haunted Recordings

13. Jason Beers – “Release the Mice!”
from: Ghoulish Songs for Cretins / Jason Beers / August 20, 2018
[Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jason Beers is a founding member of The Brannock Device, Dead Voices, and WYCO Lowriders with Johnny Hamil. Jason is known for his bass playing, and his work with Clawhammer banjo, organ/piano/keyboards, trumpet, musical saw, spoons, harmonica, and guitar. Jason has also released multiple recordings with the bands he is associated with through the years. As a solo artist, this year alone, Jason has released 10 full length albums, all available, with 9 previously released albums on his BandCamp page: http://www.jasonbeers.bandcamp.com]

14. Siouxsie & The Banshees – ” Halloween”
from: Juju / Polydor / June 6, 1981
[4th studio album from British post-punk band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. Initially associated with the English punk rock scene, the band rapidly evolved to create “a form of post-punk discord full of daring rhythmic and sonic experimentation”. The Times cited Siouxsie and the Banshees as “one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era.” With the release of Juju the group became an important influence on the emerging gothic rock scene. They disbanded in 1996, with Siouxsie and drummer Budgie continuing to record music as The Creatures, a 2nd band they’d formed in the early 1980s. In 2004, Siouxsie began a solo career.]

Michael McQuary as Boris Karloff on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

10:48 – More with Boris Karloff

In non-horror roles, he is best-known for narrating and as the voice of Grinch in the animated television special of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! from 1966. For his contribution to film and television, Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Boris Karloff Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The 1940s and 1950s – An enthusiastic performer, he returned to the Broadway stage in the original production of Arsenic and Old Lace in 1941, in which he played a homicidal gangster enraged to be frequently mistaken for Karloff. Frank Capra cast Raymond Massey in the 1944 film, which was shot in 1941, while Karloff was still appearing in the role on Broadway (the play’s producers allowed the film to be made under the condition that it not be released until the play closed). He reprised the role on television in the anthology series The Best of Broadway (1955), and with Tony Randall and Tom Bosley in a 1962 production on the Hallmark Hall of Fame.
In 1944, he underwent a spinal operation to relieve his chronic arthritic condition.

His connection with Bela Lugosi continued with Black Friday (1940), You’ll Find Out (also 1940) and The Body Snatcher (1945), the first of three films with RKO produced by Val Lewton. Isle of the Dead (also 1945) and Bedlam (1946) completed the trio.

He married 5 times and had 1 daughter Sara Karloff, by his 4th wife. One marriage was in 1946 right after his divorce. At the time of his daughter’s birth, he was filming Son of Frankenstein and reportedly rushed from the film set to the hospital while still in makeup.

For his contribution to film and television, Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1737 Vine Street for motion pictures, and 6664 Hollywood Boulevard for television. Karloff was featured by the U.S. Postal Service as Frankenstein’s Monster and the Mummy in its series “Classic Monster Movie Stamps” issued in September 1997. In 1998, an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled in his hometown in London. The British film magazine Empire in 2016 ranked Karloff’s portrayal as Frankenstein’s monster the sixth-greatest horror movie character of all time.

Boris Karloff Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley

10:53 – Haunted Recordings

15. Thom Yorke – “Voiceless Terror”
from: Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) / XL Recordings / October 26, 2018
[Suspiria is a 2018 supernatural horror film directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by David Kajganich, based on the 1977 film directed by Dario Argento. Radiohead singer Thom Yorke composed the score, his first feature film soundtrack. It features the London Contemporary Orchestra and Choir and Yorke’s son Noah on drums. He initially refused the offer, but accepted after months of requests from Guadagnino. Much of the score was completed prior to the film shoot, which afforded Guadagnino the opportunity to play the musical score on set during filming. Yorke cited inspiration from the 1982 Blade Runner soundtrack, musique concrète artists such as Pierre Henry, modern electronic artists such as James Holden, and music from the film’s 1977 Berlin setting, such as krautrock. He said: “There’s a way of repeating in music that can hypnotise. I kept thinking to myself that it’s a form of making spells. So when I was working in my studio I was making spells. I know it sounds really stupid, but that’s how I was thinking about it.” Suspiria stars Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton in a triple role, Mia Goth, Angela Winkler, Ingrid Caven, Elena Fokina, Sylvie Testud, Renée Soutendijk, Christine LeBoutte, Fabrizia Sacchi, Małgosia Bela, Jessica Harper, and Chloë Grace Moretz. Harper, the lead in the original film, appears in a different role. Set in 1977 Berlin, the plot follows a young American dancer who enrolls at a prestigious dance academy controlled by a coven of witches. Unlike in Argento’s original film which utilized exaggerated color, Guadagnino conceived Suspiria as visually “winter-ish” and bleak, absent of any primary colors. The film also incorporates stylized dance sequences choreographed by Damien Jalet, which factor significantly in its representation of witchcraft. Concurrent to its plot surrounding the coven is a secondary plot involving a psychotherapist who lost his wife under the Nazi regime. Principal photography for Suspiria took place in late 2016 and early 2017 in Varese and Berlin. The score was composed by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, who completed much of the arrangements prior to and during filming. Suspiria premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on September 1, 2018. In the United States, it was released in a limited release by Amazon Studios in Los Angeles and New York on October 26, 2018, followed by Halloween screenings in select cities before opening wide on November 2, 2018. It will be released in the United Kingdom by Mubi on November 16, 2018.]

16. Jametatone – “Too Late”
from: Empty Bliss / J. Ashley Miller / March 21, 2017
[3-song rare EP from Jametatone, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone. J. Ashley Miller is the The 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow. He is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His genre-bending trans-modern work has been performed everywhere from YJ’s to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, to the MoMa PS1 in NYC. Ashley utilizes a diverse range of technologies, techniques, and collaborators to access obscure facets of the human emotional landscape. Jametatone opened all four shows at The Outburst KC, where Calvin Arsenia performed his 2017 Release Catastrophe “Unplugged” with guest musicians Beau Bledsoe, Fritz Hutchinson, Mark Southerland, and artist & vocalist Seth M. Jones. On December 21, 2017 Jametatone released anew 10-song album “Frog In The Pot”, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone You can view more of Ashley’s work at http://www.jametatone.com.]

17. The Misfits – “Halloween”
from: Halloween – Single / Plan 9 Records / October 31, 1981
[Also available on Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Halloween. “Halloween” is the 5th single by the horror punk band the Misfits. It was released on singer Glenn Danzig’s label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7″ vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet. This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply “Misfits”. American punk rock band recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes. Founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey by singer & songwriter Glenn Danzig, the group had a fluctuating lineup during its first six years, with Danzig and bassist Jerry Only as the only consistent members. During this time they released several EPs and singles, and with Only’s brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. Misfits disbanded in 1983 and Danzig went on to form Samhain and then the eponymous Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group’s dissolution, and their music became influential to punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock music.]

11:01 – Station ID

11:00 – Haunted Recordings

18. Bette Davis – “Kaleidoscope, Broadcast on BBC Radio (Sept. 11, 1974)”
from: Bette Davis In Her Own Words / AudioGO Ltd / September 26, 2011
[In a selection of interviews ranging from 1958 to 1987, Bette Davis talks about visiting England; her career as a star; the film studio’s attempts to change her name and image, and the Hollywood film system. Interviews include: Profile, BBC TV (first broadcast 12 September 1958); Bette Davis at the NFT, BBC TV (first broadcast 17 December 1972); Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio (first broadcast 11 September 1974); Parkinson, BBC TV (18 October 1975); Nine Five, BBC TV (first broadcast 31 October 1975); Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio (first broadcast 12 September 1979); Arena, BBC TV (first broadcast 2 November 1983). Due to the age and nature of this archive material, the sound quality may vary.]

19. Bette Davis – “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”
from: The Andy Williams Show / Unreleased / December 20, 1962
[Shortly after filming What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? On December 20, 1962, Bette Davis was a guest on The Andy Williams Show to promote the film and upcoming record. When Williams asked Davis what her new record sounded like, she used her fabulous sense of humor to compare it to Chubby Checker. Things really got good when Williams announced that Davis would be performing a little tune for the audience. Davis brought the awesome in a sparkly blue dress, with some sassy dance moves and a set of raspy vocal pipes that were clearly touched by years of constant chain-smoking. The best part is that Davis was happily aware of the camp and the silliness of her performance but she let it rip, regardless. What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? / was released on 7″ Vinyl, in 1962 credited to Bette Davis and Debbie Burton (who on the record does most of the singing) The B-side is: “I’ve Written A Letter To Daddy” on MGM Records.]

Michael McQuary as Bette Davis on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

11:03 – Interview with Bette Davis

Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis was born April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts (She died on October 6, 1989). She was an American actress of film, television, and theater. With a career spanning 60 years, she is regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

Bette Davis Thanks for being with us again on Wednesday MidDay Medley

“Bette” Davis was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films, suspense horror, and occasional comedies, although her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas.

After appearing in Broadway plays, Davis moved to Hollywood in the summer of 1930. However, her early films for Universal Studios (and as a loanout to other studios) were unsuccessful. She joined Warner Bros. in 1932, and established her career with several critically acclaimed performances. In 1937, she attempted to free herself from her contract. Although she lost the well-publicized legal case against the studio, it marked the beginning of the most successful period of her career. Until the late 1940s, she was one of American cinema’s most celebrated leading ladies, known for her forceful and intense style. Davis gained a reputation as a perfectionist who could be highly combative and confrontational. She clashed with studio executives and film directors, as well as many of her co-stars. Her forthright manner, idiosyncratic speech, and ubiquitous cigarette contributed to a public persona, which has often been imitated.

Davis was the co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen, and was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of eclipse, and she admitted that her success had often been at the expense of her personal relationships. Married four times, she was once widowed and three times divorced, and raised her children as a single parent. Her final years were marred by a long period of ill health, but she continued acting until shortly before her death from breast cancer, with more than 100 film, television, and theater roles to her credit during her six-decade-long career. In 1999, Davis was placed second behind Katharine Hepburn on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.

11:08 – Haunted Recordings

20. Madonna – “Frozen”
from: Ray Of Light / Maverick – Warner Bros. / February 22, 1998
[7th studio album by Madonna. After giving birth to her first child, Madonna started working on the album with producers Babyface & Patrick Leonard. Following failed sessions, Madonna pursued a new musical direction with English producer William Orbit. The recording process was the longest of Madonna’s career and experienced problems with Orbit’s hardware arrangement, which would break down, and recording would be delayed until they could be repaired. A departure, Ray of Light is an electronica and dance album which incorporates multiple genres, including ambient, trip hop, and Middle Eastern music. Vocally, the album saw Madonna sing with greater breadth and a fuller tone. Mystical themes are also strongly present in both the music & lyrics, as a result of Madonna embracing Kabbalah, her study of Hinduism & Buddhism, as well as her daily practice of Ashtanga Yoga. The album received universal acclaim, with reviews commending the singer’s new musical direction. Called her “most adventurous” record, Ray of Light has been noted for its introspective, spiritual nature, with Madonna’s vocals also being praised. Ray of Light won four Grammy Awards from a total of six nominations. The album peaked at #1 in several countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Poland, and the UK. The album debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200, with the biggest first-week sales by a female artist at the time, and has sold over 16 million copies worldwide. Five singles were released from the album, including the international hits “Frozen” and “Ray of Light”. The album’s promotion was later supported by the Drowned World Tour in 2001. Academics have noted the album’s influence on popular music, and how it introduced electronica into mainstream pop culture. They also noted Madonna’s musical re-invention which helped her remain contemporary among the teen-marketed artists of the period. Ray of Light is frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time.]

21. Cesar Davila-Irizarry & Charlie Clouser – “American Horror Story Theme”
from: American Horror Story Theme – Single / 20th Century Fox TV Records / Oct 17, 2012
[The song was composed in 1998 by César Dávila-Irizarry. Today he’s a television sound editor in Los Angeles, but back then he was just a sophomore at the University of Puerto Rico, living at his mother’s house, futzing around with digital remixes on Windows ’95. “I started playing around with the software that other people were using then, which was Cool Edit 96,” he recalls. “I was just getting some demons out.” He grew attached to a particular sparse, haunting melody and added sounds of clattering metal hangers, dripping water and white noise—all distorted beyond recognition. To some ears, the hangers might sound like an electric guitar. He gave the song to his friend Gabriel Diaz and didn’t think much about it until Diaz—now an editor at Prologue Pictures—dusted off the track a decade later and slotted it in as a temp track for the American Horror Story title sequence. (A temp track is placeholder music that editors use while working on rough cuts.) Everyone at FX and Prologue grew so accustomed to Dávila-Irizarry’s song, they decided to keep it—even after hiring composer Charlie Clouser (formerly of Nine Inch Nails) to write entirely new music. Clouser submitted four of his own demos, but each time was told to make the music sound more like the temp track.

Michael McQuary as Bette Davis on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

11:15 – More with Bette Davis

We’re with legendary star of film Bette Davis was born April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts (She died on October 6, 1989). She was, regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

Bette Davis – Thanks for being with on Wednesday MidDay Medley

In 1930, 22-year-old Davis moved to Hollywood to screen test for Universal Studios. Davis and her mother traveled by train to Hollywood. She later recounted her surprise that nobody from the studio was there to meet her. In fact, a studio employee had waited for her, but left because he saw nobody who “looked like an actress”. She failed her first screen test, but was used in several screen tests for other actors. In a 1971 interview with Dick Cavett, she related the experience with the observation, “I was the most Yankee-est, most modest virgin who ever walked the earth. They laid me on a couch, and I tested fifteen men … They all had to lie on top of me and give me a passionate kiss. Oh, I thought I would die. Just thought I would die.” A second test was arranged for Davis, for the 1931 film A House Divided. Hastily dressed in an ill-fitting costume with a low neckline, she was rebuffed by the film director William Wyler, who loudly commented to the assembled crew, “What do you think of these dames who show their chests and think they can get jobs?”. Carl Laemmle, the head of Universal Studios, considered terminating Davis’ employment, but cinematographer Karl Freund told him she had “lovely eyes” and would be suitable for Bad Sister (1931), in which she subsequently made her film debut. Her nervousness was compounded when she overheard the chief of production, Carl Laemmle, Jr., comment to another executive that she had “about as much sex appeal as Slim Summerville”, one of the film’s co-stars. The film was not a success, and her next role in Seed (1931) was too brief to attract attention.

Universal Studios renewed her contract for three months, and she appeared in a small role in Waterloo Bridge (1931), before being lent to Columbia Pictures for The Menace, and to Capital Films for Hell’s House (all 1932). After one year, and six unsuccessful films, Laemmle elected not to renew her contract. Davis was preparing to return to New York when actor George Arliss chose Davis for the lead female role in the Warner Bros. picture The Man Who Played God (1932), and for the rest of her life, Davis credited him with helping her achieve her “break” in Hollywood. The Saturday Evening Post wrote, “She is not only beautiful, but she bubbles with charm”, and compared her to Constance Bennett and Olive Borden.

Warner Bros. signed her to a 5-year contract, and she remained with the studio for the next 18 years. Davis married Harmon Oscar Nelson on August 18, 1932, in Yuma, Arizona. Their marriage was scrutinized by the press; his $100 a week earnings compared unfavorably with Davis’ reported $1,000 a week income. Davis addressed the issue in an interview, pointing out that many Hollywood wives earned more than their husbands, but the situation proved difficult for Nelson, who refused to allow Davis to purchase a house until he could afford to pay for it himself. Davis had several abortions during the marriage. After more than 20 film roles, the role of the vicious and slatternly Mildred Rogers in the RKO Radio production of Of Human Bondage (1934), a film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s novel, earned Davis her first major critical acclaim. Many actresses feared playing unsympathetic characters, and several had refused the role, but Davis viewed it as an opportunity to show the range of her acting skills. Her co-star, Leslie Howard, was initially dismissive of her, but as filming progressed, his attitude changed, and he subsequently spoke highly of her abilities. The director John Cromwell allowed her relative freedom: “I let Bette have her head. I trusted her instincts.” She insisted that she be portrayed realistically in her death scene, and said: “The last stages of consumption, poverty, and neglect are not pretty, and I intended to be convincing-looking.” The film was a success, and Davis’ characterization won praise from critics, with Life writing that she gave “probably the best performance ever recorded on the screen by a U.S. actress”. Davis anticipated that her reception would encourage Warner Bros. to cast her in more important roles, and was disappointed when Jack L. Warner refused to lend her to Columbia Studios to appear in It Happened One Night, and instead cast her in the melodrama Housewife. When Davis was not nominated for an Academy Award for Of Human Bondage, The Hollywood Citizen News questioned the omission, and Norma Shearer, herself a nominee, joined a campaign to have Davis nominated. This prompted an announcement from the Academy president, Howard Estabrook, who said that under the circumstances, “any voter … may write on the ballot his or her personal choice for the winners”, thus allowing, for the only time in the Academy’s history, the consideration of a candidate not officially nominated for an award. The uproar led, however, to a change in academy voting procedures the following year, wherein nominations were determined by votes from all eligible members of a particular branch, rather than by a smaller committee, with results independently tabulated by the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. Davis appeared in Dangerous (1935) as a troubled actress, and received very good reviews.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Davis spent the early months of 1942 selling war bonds. After Jack Warner criticized her tendency to cajole crowds into buying, she reminded him that her audiences responded most strongly to her “bitch” performances. She sold $2 million worth of bonds in two days, as well as a picture of herself in Jezebel for $250,000. She also performed for black regiments as the only white member of an acting troupe formed by Hattie McDaniel, which included Lena Horne and Ethel Waters.

In 1960, Davis, a registered Democrat, appeared at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where she met future President John F. Kennedy, whom she greatly admired. Outside of acting and politics, Davis was an active and practicing Episcopalian.

1961-1970: Renewed success – Davis received her final Academy Award nomination for her role as demented Baby Jane Hudson in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Davis and Joan Crawford played two aging sisters, former actresses forced by circumstance to share a decaying Hollywood mansion. The director, Robert Aldrich, explained that Davis and Crawford were each aware of how important the film was to their respective careers, and commented: “It’s proper to say that they really detested each other, but they behaved absolutely perfectly.” After filming was completed, their public comments against each other allowed the tension to develop into a life-long feud. When Davis was nominated for an Academy Award, Crawford contacted the other Best Actress nominees (who were unable to attend the ceremonies) and offered to accept the award on their behalf, should they win. When Anne Bancroft was announced as winner, Crawford accepted the award on Bancroft’s behalf.

Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) was Robert Aldrich’s follow-up to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. Aldrich planned to reunite Davis and Crawford, but Crawford withdrew allegedly due to illness soon after filming began. She was replaced by Olivia de Havilland. The film was a considerable success, and brought renewed attention to its veteran cast, which also included Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor, Agnes Moorehead, and Cecil Kellaway.

Davis’ name became well known to a younger audience when Kim Carnes’ song “Bette Davis Eyes” (written by Jackie DeShannon) became a worldwide hit and the best-selling record of 1981 in the U.S., where it stayed at #1 on the music charts for more than two months. Davis’ grandson was impressed that she was the subject of a hit song and Davis considered it a compliment, writing to both Carnes and the songwriters, and accepting the gift of gold and platinum records from Carnes, and hanging them on her wall.

Bette Davis – Thanks for being with on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:20 – Haunted Recordings

22. Screaming Jay Hawkins – “I Put a Spell on You”
from: Single – (Jeremy Sole’s Zombie Stomp Remix) / self released / 2011
[Jeremy Sole is a critically acclaimed DJ, he is also a radio show host at KCRW in Santa Monica, California (www.kcrw.com) and is Co-Founder and resident deejay of “AFRO FUNKÉ.” Sole has drawn a loyal crowd every week for the past 7 years. This is his arena for Afrobeat, Latin, Brazilian and other authentic and remixed world rhythms. Hundreds of international guests have joined him, from deejays Rich Medina and Cut Chemist to impromptu jam sessions with Zap Mama and Stevie Wonder. “Jeremy is a great DJ, presenter, producer and knower-of-music …an extremely cool dude. I cannot stop listening to his remix of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ …it’s irresistible.” – Henry Rollins]

23. Snoop Dogg–”Murder Was the Case (Death After Visualizing Eternity)[feat. Dat Nigga Daz]”
from: Doggystyle / Death Row Records / November 23, 1993
[Debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. IThe album was recorded and produced following Snoop’s appearances on Dr. Dre’s debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre’s first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Doggy Dogg for the lyrical “realism” that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow. Despite some mixed criticism of the album initially upon its release, Doggystyle earned recognition from many music critics as one of the most significant albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the most important hip-hop albums ever released. Much like The Chronic, the distinctive sounds of Doggystyle helped introduce the hip-hop subgenre of g-funk to a mainstream audience, bringing forward West Coast hip hop as a dominant force in the early-1990s. Doggystyle debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 806,858 copies in its first week alone in the United States, which was the record for a debuting artist and the fastest-selling hip-hop album ever. Doggystyle was included on The Source magazine’s list of the 100 Best Rap Albums; as well as Rolling Stone magazine’s list of Essential Recordings of the ’90s.[3] About.com placed the album in No. 17 of the greatest hip hop/rap albums of all time.The album was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). By November 2015, the album had sold 7 million copies in the United States, and over 11 million copies worldwide.]

24. AKADUNGEONMASTER –”SOF TRAP INTERLUDE”
from: SWINE FLU INSTRUMETALS VERSION ONE / Mother Russia Industries / July 13, 2013
[The experimental project of Tim J. Harte. musician, composer, co-founder of the Kansas City record label, Mother Russia Industries, Tim J.Harte makes music using Sega Genesis, Dungeons and Dragons, math and several hard working laptop computers. Tim J. Harte is currently studiing composition at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music. He just recently composed music and conducted a 7 piece ensemble for Trench Warfare, a theatrical performance presented last Saturday evening, January 13, at the National World War I Museum and Memorial J.C. Nichols Auditorium. Tim also composed original music for Ryan Wilks art exhibit, Here Where You Wish, is an immersive public installation at the Kansas City Public Library.]

25. Kraftwerk – “Intermission (2009 Remaster)”
from: Radio-Activity (2009 Remaster) / Parlophone Records / October 6, 2009
[Origianally released in October 1975. The fifth studio album by German electronic band Kraftwerk. It is a concept album organized around the theme of radio communication. To cater to the band’s international audience, all releases of the album were bilingual with lyrics in both English and German, the only localised difference being the album and track titles. being about radioactivity and the other half about activity on the radio. More word plays are evident in the track listing: “Radio Stars”, which as a title could refer to pop stars, but upon listening is revealed to be about quasars and pulsars. This was the first Kraftwerk album to be entirely self-produced by Ralf Hütter and Schneider in their Kling Klang studio, and the first one to be performed by the “classic” Hütter, Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flür line-up. All the music was written by Hütter and Schneider, with Emil Schult collaborating on lyrics. Schult also designed the artwork – a modified illustration of a late-1930s ‘Deutscher Kleinempfänger’ radio. It was the first Kraftwerk album to feature use of the distinctive Vako Orchestron keyboard (choir, string and organ sounds), which the group had purchased on their recent US Autobahn tour and the Moog Micromoog which was used extensively on this album. Notably, it provided the harsh sounds on the track “Antenna”. The band’s custom-built electronic percussion also featured heavily in the sound, and extensive use was made of the vocoder. The usual synthesizers were present (including Minimoog and ARP Odyssey), and Hütter’s Farfisa electronic piano made a return on “Transistor”. For the first time the group did not use flute, violin or guitars. By 1975, Hütter and Schneider’s previous publishing deals with Capriccio Music and Star Musik Studio of Hamburg had expired. The compositions on Radio-Activity were published by their own newly set up Kling Klang Verlag music publishing company, giving them greater financial control over the use of songwriting output. Also, the album was the first to bear the fruit of Kling Klang as an established vanity label under the group’s new licensing deal with EMI. The album reached #59 in Canada, in February 1976. The title track “Radioactivity” was released as a single, and became a hit in France after it was used as the theme to a popular music show. The song was later re-recorded by Kraftwerk for their 1991 album The Mix. It was further remixed, for subsequent single release, by William Orbit and François Kevorkian.]

Michael McQuary as Bette Davis on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

Michael McQuary as Boris Karloff on the October 31, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI. (Photo by Mark Manning)

“Michael McQuary is more than a pretty face, and he’s got a thousand, anyway. His is a talent today’s entertainment world needs more of. From Fu Manchu to Phantoms to Dietrich, Michael carries them all off to perfection, and I knew the originals. This talented entertainer perfects his transformations while allowing the audience a glimpse of the artist beneath the mask.” – Rex Reed

Michael McQuary – Thanks for being with on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Stage & screen actor, Michael McQuary was born and raised in Portland, Oregon in the 1960s. Michael tells us that he learned about the world “sideways,” and that as a child, “the movies took care of him.”

Michael remembers, at the age of 6, pointing to the television, spellbound by Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula, he said to his mother, “Look how he holds his cape!” From then on Michael’s childhood was focused on his own creative world.

Michael is a master impressionist, with a unique take on the legendary “Monsters of Filmland” and the brightest stars of Hollywood’s golden age. Michael is also a character actor and can be seen in multiple films and shorts.

Michael was the creator of the award winning one-man shows in New York City including: Matinee Idol, Man of 1001 Faces, Crystal Allan Strikes Back, Back Then They Had Faces, My Own Space and most recently, for KC Fringe Festival “I’m Hollywood.”

He is also a visual stylist and original “Party Monster – Club Kid” from downtown NYC.
Along with performing, Michael McQuary works as a visual artist, making a name for himself at celebrated events where he wows spectators with #youressenceinseconds.

Michael also designs very special works that are forged into art and jewelry based on a one-of-a-kind symbols he creates individually for clients through his company: http://www.YourPowerSign.com.

Michael McQuary – Thanks for being with on Wednesday MidDay Medley

11:40 – Apocalypse Meow 11

27. Hot Suede – “Forget About You”
from: Forget About You – Single / Hot Suede / August 16, 2018
[Formed October 4, 2017, Hot Suede is a new original rock and roll band from Kansas City, Missouri showcasing fiery guitar riffs, an equally groovy and thunderous rhythm section, soaring vocals, and unparalleled swagger. Rising from the ashes of juggernaut Cherokee Rock Rifle, guitarists Doug Nelson, Scott Reed, and drummer Brett Southard joined forces with bassist Chad Toney and vocalist Wayne Hutcherson aka Bobby W. Topaz to form an unpretentious rock band with classic undertones and guitar-driven songwriting. On October 12, 2017 Hot Suede released the single “Get What You Came For.” On December 20, 2017 Hot Suede released the single, “Make It Harder.” More info at: http://www.hotsuede.com]

Sondra Freeman is Director of Promotions and Artist Relations for Midwest Music Foundation, a nonprofit created to support music and musicians in Kansas City and the surrounding areas, founded in 2008 by a collective of musicians and music lovers. The Midwest Music Foundation (MMF) unites and empowers the greater Kansas City music community by providing programs and resources to area musicians through outreach, support, education, and health care opportunities. Sondra is instrumental in MMF’s annual events: Apocalypse Meow, MidCoast Takeover and the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, as well as many other collaborative musical events and fundraisers.

Abigail Henderson co-founded Midwest Music Foundation, since her death, five years ago, friends, musicians, collaborators have kept this not-for-profit alive.

Midwest Music Foundation is a part of events all year round: Midcoast Takeover, Middle of The Map Fest, Crossroads Music Fest, and more.

The Midwest Music Foundation and 90.9 The Bridge are proud to present the 11th Annual Apocalypse Meow to benefit Abby’s Fund for Musicians’ Health Care on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3.

It kicks off with a free, all-ages concert at Mills Record Company (4045 Broadway Blvd) on Friday, Nov. 2, with Hot Suede and The Whiffs. Doors open at 7 p.m., and Barry Lee (KKFI 90.1 FM) will emcee.

The main event is held on Saturday, Nov. 3, at recordBar (1520 Grand Blvd), with doors opening at 6 p.m. The Too Much Rock Main Stage will showcase performances by Bacon Shoe, The Almighty Trouble Brothers, Chris Meck and The Second Sons, and Chase The Horseman. Jen Harris, Kelly Hunt and Eems will perform on the acoustic stage. Jonathan Wier (The Jonathan Wier Show, KMBZ-FM 98.1) and Paul Chandler (X105.1KC and 105.9 KISS FM) will emcee. Tickets for Saturday are available for $10 at this link or $15 at the door.

RockDocs, a collaboration of University of Kansas and the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County will be on site Saturday to offer health care and ACA information, screenings, wellness programs, opportunities to discuss health conditions and concerns, and arrange follow ups.

A silent auction and raffles will feature an assortment of items donated by local businesses. This event is supported by the Kansas City Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund. More information and a full list of sponsors can be found here. To view a promotional video about Apocalypse Meow with support from Mayor Sly James, visit this link.

In 2008, Apocalypse Meow was established to raise medical funds for local musician Abigail Henderson, who had been diagnosed with cancer. Compelled to give back to the community, she co-founded MMF to provide musicians with health care assistance. Though she passed away in 2013, Abigail’s mission continues — MMF provides financial resources, educational programs, health clinics and events throughout the year. Abby’s Fund dispenses emergency health care grants to KC-area musicians, having contributed more than $130,000 since its inception.

Next week, on November 7 we play more of New & MidCoastal Releases. Plus we’ll be joined by company members of Spinning Tree Theatre’s production of “The Nance” running through November 18 at Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Central, KCMO. We’ll also talk with Ben Parks and Matthew Dunehoo about the debut recording of their band SLIGHTS and their album release show, November 30, at recordBar.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Portions of our show will co-hosted by Béla Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Bette Davis as played by our special guest star, Michael McQuary.

“Michael McQuary is more than a pretty face, and he’s got a thousand, anyway. His is a talent today’s entertainment world needs more of. From Fu Manchu to Phantoms to Dietrich, Michael carries them all off to perfection, and I knew the originals. This talented entertainer perfects his transformations while allowing the audience a glimpse of the artist beneath the mask.” – Rex Reed

Stage & screen actor, Michael McQuary was born and raised in Portland, Oregon in the 1960s. Michael tells us that he learned about the world “sideways,” and that as a child, “the movies took care of him.” Michael remembers, at the age of 6, pointing to the television, spellbound by Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula, he said to his mother, “Look how he holds his cape!” From then on Michael’s childhood was focused on his own creative world. Michael is a master impressionist, with a unique take on the legendary “Monsters of Filmland” and the brightest stars of Hollywood’s golden age. Michael is also a character actor and can be seen in multiple films and shorts. Michael was the creator of the award winning one-man shows in New York City including: Matinee Idol, Man of 1001 Faces, Crystal Allan Strikes Back, Back Then They Had Faces, My Own Space and most recently, for KC Fringe Festival “I’m Hollywood.” He is also a visual stylist and original “Party Monster – Club Kid” from downtown NYC. Along with performing, Michael McQuary works as a visual artist, making a name for himself at celebrated events where he wows spectators with #youressenceinseconds. Michael also designs very special works that are forged into art and jewelry based on a one-of-a-kind symbols he creates individually for clients through his company: http://www.YourPowerSign.com.

At 11:40 we talk with Sondra Freeman of Midwest Music Foundation about the 11th annual Apocalypse Meow benefit concert on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3. The annual concert is MMF’s primary fundraiser for Abby’s Fund For Musicians’ Health Care. It kicks off with a free, all-ages concert at Mills Record Company (4045 Broadway Blvd) on Friday, Nov. 2, with Hot Suede and The Whiffs. Doors open at 7 p.m., and Barry Lee (KKFI 90.1 FM) will emcee. The main event is held on Saturday, Nov. 3, at recordBar (1520 Grand Blvd), with doors opening at 6 p.m. The Too Much Rock Main Stage will showcase performances by Bacon Shoe, The Almighty Trouble Brothers, Chris Meck and The Second Sons, and Chase The Horseman. Jen Harris, Kelly Hunt and Eems will perform on the acoustic stage. Jonathan Wier (The Jonathan Wier Show, KMBZ-FM 98.1) and Paul Chandler (X105.1KC and 105.9 KISS FM) will emcee. Tickets for Saturday are available for $10 at this link or $15 at the door. More information about Apocalypse Meow 11 and MMF can be found at midwestmusicfoundation.org.

2. Soccer Mommy – “Last Girl”
from: Clean / Fat Possum Records / March 2, 2018
[Soccer Mommy is the stage name of bedroom pop and indie rock musician Sophie Allison. Allison was born in Switzerland and grew up in Nashville, TN. She attended Nashville School of the Arts, a speciality high school where she studied guitar and played in the swing band. She first picked up a guitar at age 6, which prompted her to start making music. She began posting home-recorded songs to Bandcamp as Soccer Mommy in 2015, during the summer when she was about to leave for college at New York University, where she studied music business. While in college, she played her first show as Soccer Mommy at the community art space Silent Barn in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and shortly after landed a record deal with Fat Possum.She dropped out after a year in 2017 to return to Nashville and pursue her music career. Since beginning her career as Soccer Mommy, Allison has released two full-length albums. Her first, For Young Hearts, was released in 2016 on Orchid Tapes. Her second album, Collection, was released in 2017 on Fat Possum Records. Her debut album proper, titled Clean, was released on March 2, 2018. She has toured with Mitski, Jay Som, Slowdive, Frankie Cosmos, Phoebe Bridgers and others]

[Soccer Mommy opens for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at recordbar, Sunday, July 29, at 8:00 PM.]

3. The Philistines – “1971”
from: The Backbone of Night / The Record Machine / June 4, 2016
[KC based rock band with a psychedelic bent, made up of: Kimmie Queen on lead vocals; Cody Wyoming on lead guitar & vocals; Steve Gardels on drums, Rod Peal on guitar; Josh Mobley on keyboard, and Barry Kidd on bass. For this record Michelle Bacon played bass & backing vocals. Recorded & mixed with Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound Studios and mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering.]

[The Philistines play Jackpot Music Hall, 943 Massachusetts Street, in Lawrence, Kansas Friday, July 27, for the Serene Fiend Album Release Show at 9:00 PM.]

[The Philistines play The Riot Room, 4048 Broadway, Kansas City, MO., Monday, July 30, at 7:00 PM with in The Whale.]

[The Philistines play The Rino, 314 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, Sunday, August 19, at 7:00 PM, with Dream Version, and Westerners]

4. Under the Big Oak Tree – “Dear Brother”
from: The Ark / Under The Big Oak Tree / August 31, 2018
[3rd album from St. Joseph, Missouri based band made up of Kristin Hamilton on guitar & vocals; Doug Ward on bass & vocals; Simon Fink on mandolin, violin, banjo & vocals; and Jason Riley on electric & nylon string guitar. Under the Big Oak Tree’s honeyed blend of vintage folk, acoustic country, and traditional bluegrass has been described as “warm” and “picturesque” with “flawless harmonies.” (St. Joseph Newspress). The band’s 2014 debut recording stood out as “one of the most lush, beautiful records to come out of the local scene,” and made multiple year-end best lists. (St. Joe Live) The group’s second album, Local Honey was released on MudStomp Records in January, 2016 and hailed for it’s “crisp production and stellar musicianship” (The Hank Williams Reader) and christened as “sweet on the ears” (Madisen Ward- Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear).

5. The Hollow Ends – “The Low”
from: Bears in Mind / Brave New Records / July 27, 2018
[Debut album from St. Louis, Missouri based singer-songwriter Zachary Schwartz who tracked the record in his bedroom. The record was mixed and mastered by Ben Majchrzak at Native Sound.]

[The Hollow Ends play The Brick, 1727 McGee, KCMO, on Saturday, July 28, at 7:00 pm with Luther Vincent, and Lily Brown.]

6. Mikal Shapiro – “Everybody’s Baby”
from: The Musical II / Mikal Shapiro / May 26, 2018
[The sequel to Shapiro’s 2015 concept album “The Musical.” Mikal Shapiro, on vocals & guitar, Chad Brothers on vocals & guitar, Johnny Hamil on bass, and Matt Richey on drums. Special guests include: Hermon Mehari on trumpet, Tina Bilberry on viola & violin, Damon Parker on keyboards, and Lauren Hughes on vocals. Engineered and co-produced by Joel Nanos at Element Recording & Mastering Studios. Mikal Shapiro is a KC songwriter whose musical influences span popular songs, psych rock, lounge, classic country and old time spirituals. She has toured extensively across the U.S. and has recorded five critically acclaimed albums. KC Star and Tim Finn declared her album “The Musical” to be one of his top five releases of 2015. A third generation storyteller, she draws inspiration from her travels, love life, and the state of the Union.]

7. Kyle Nachtigal – “Feeling This Way”
from: High Considerations / Kyle Nachtigal / April 20, 2018
[Originally from Springfield, Missouri, this talented guitarist, singer and songwriter has lived in Nashville, Tennessee, since 2009. He studied at Belmont University in the Music City and dedicated himself to full-time music making in February of 2016 which got him out on the road. In his travels he kicks it through Kentucky, meanders to Missouri, then heads back to Tennessee before wandering up to Illinois or down to Arkansas for a few gigs. Yes, the guy stays busy playing his style of percussive, melodic rhythm guitar on a custom designed Craig Southern model backing up his smooth and appealing voice. He works off a song list ranging from unique mashups to top shelf originals, plus all kinds of styles in between since he can “jump effortlessly between folk, rock, hip hop and jazz” without breaking a cool sweat. He released the seven-track recording titled Fort Dakota in 2016 and continues on the solo music adventure as a contemporary troubadour out to make music for the people. – Tom Irwin, IllinoisTimes, 10/26/17]

[Kyle Nachtigal plays Westport Saloon, 4112 Pennsylvania Ave, KCMO, on Friday, July 27, at 8:00 PM, followed by Duncan Hill and the Electric Prairie Surfers, and The Widowmakers.]

8. The War and Treaty – “Healing Tide”
from: Healing Tide / Strong World Entertainment / Expected August 10, 2018
[Full Length album debut from Michael Trotter Jr & Tanya Blount-Trotter are from Albion, Michigan. For Michael Trotter Jr., the journey began in 2004, when he arrived in Iraq, an untested soldier stricken by fear and self-doubt. His captain made it his personal mission to see to Trotter’s survival. The unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein’s private palaces, and in a forgotten corner in its basement, they found a black upright piano that once belonged to the dictator himself. When Trotter shared the fact he could sing, he was encouraged to teach himself to play piano on that confiscated keyboard. “I wrote my first song after that captain was killed,” Trotter recalls. “I sang it for his memorial in Iraq.” Soon after it became his mission to sing at the memorial services for those that had fallen. For the next three years, he sang songs that brought solace and comfort to the members of his unit. His efforts eventually garnered wider recognition as well. He came in first place in “Military Idol,” the army’s version of “American Idol,” during a competition held in Baumholder, Germany. Following his discharge, he was featured on the Hope Channel program “My Story, My Song.” Then he met Tanya Blount. Blount’s musically influences include Mahalia Jackson, Sister Odette and Aretha Franklin. The two fell in love, got married and used the experiences they had gained to create a new musical collaboration. The couple then secured the services of musicians whose skills add a distinctive sound to The War and Treaty’s blend of roots music, blue grass,folk, gospel and soul. Their 2017 EP Down to the River was released July 21, 2017. Recorded in Albion, Michigan, Down to the River boasts a sound that’s both stirring and sensual, driven by joy, determination and an unceasing upward gaze. The music is visceral but never morose, flush with emotion but void of despair… a style that touches on a variety of genres, but never finds itself confined to anyone. The arrangements are uncluttered– harmonies, basslines, guitar and mandolin licks, settle drum patterns and keyboards create an immensely moving soundscape — but the sentiments and emotions are fully realized and soar with a steady, chilling assurance. “The recording process wasn’t like anything I ever experienced,” Tanya recalls. “This EP has allowed me to breathe musically. I feel like all I have wanted to express for the past ten years has come forth with what we’ve done. The combination of heart, soul and the overwhelming amount of love that Michael and I have for one another comes across in this record.“ “I was sitting on the banks of the Euphrates River in Baghdad dreaming about one day being able to play and sing professionally for people all around the world,” Michael reflects. “As we recorded our music, I constantly had flashbacks of those desert dreams. I thought to myself that this is actually the perfect ending to usher in a new beginning in my life.”]

[The War and Treaty played an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. Shy Boys – “Take The Doggie”
from: Bell House / Polyvinyl Record Co. / Expected August 3, 2018
[Shy Boys line-up consists of brothers Collin Rausch and Kyle Rausch, Konnor Ervin, Kyle Little and Ross Brown. This was the first single from their upcoming full length release.]

10:35 – Interview with Shy Boys

Shy Boys

Shy Boys are on the verge of their national release, Bell House, on Polyvinyl Records. Shy Boys originally formed as a trio in 2012 with brothers Collin Rausch, Kyle Rausch, and roommate Konnor Ervin (of The ACB’s fame). The three shared a love for 1960s era pop rock and started writing their own music. Kyle Little and Ross Brown (of Fullbloods) joined to make Shy Boys a 5-piece. In 2014 Shy Boys released their self-titled debut on High Dive Records. Their single “Bully Fight” was featured on Spin.com. In June 2014 the band recorded and released two more singles. “Life Is Peachy,” was featured on Stereogum. On April 4th, 2018, it was announced that Shy Boys had signed to Polyvinyl. Shy Boys play a Record Release Show, August 4, at 8:00 PM at recordBar, with The Whiffs, Jametatone’s Blastocyst.

Band member Kyle Little had to work at his job at Retro Inferno and couldn’t be with us on the radio.

We gave Ross Brown a little kidding, asking him if he should change his name to Kevin or Carl so as to fit in more phonetically with Collin, Kyle, Konnor, and Kyle.

Shy Boys – Bell HouseShy Boys album art was done by Kit Landwehr

On the Bandcamp page for Shy Boys there is an essay written by fellow Kansas City area musician Kevin Morby who now lives in Los Angeles.

Being in a band is a sacred thing.
Being in a band in 2018 is a sacred thing.
Being from the Midwest is a sacred thing.
Being in a band that is from the Midwest in 2018…

Consider Shy Boys – DIY local champions of Kansas City, MO, who if you add it all up, are something sacred. Comprised of brothers Collin and Kyle Rausch and best friends Konnor Ervin, Kyle Little and Ross Brown, Shy Boys are the heartland’s answer to The Beach Boys had Alex Chilton been on guitar.

But if a harmony falls into a microphone in the middle of America does anyone really hear it? Some do. Take for instance Shy Boys’ 2014 self-titled debut on local Kansas City label, High Dive Records – I first came across this album while living in Los Angeles and catching wind of a band from my home town that I was told could “actually sing,” and after the first spin, through the muddy fidelity, man, could they actually sing.

Shy Boys’ history isn’t too dissimilar from any other Midwestern band. Like the many Replacements or Husker Düs before them – they exist neither here nor there, but instead, somewhere anonymously in the middle. And though you may not find the same opportunity floating in the middle as one would Here or There, you are allotted a certain amount of time and space to grow both yourself and your craft into what you want it to be. Over the past four years, that is exactly what Shy Boys have done and that is what brings us here today.

On August 3, 2018, the world will see the release of their second record, Bell House, out on legendary and globally cherished record label Polyvinyl, bringing both their profile and music to the surface for the first time.

The album’s title is taken from the band’s beloved headquarters – the old house on Bell Street in Kansas City where they lived together for the better part of 5 years.

“‘Lived’ is a loose term,” says lead songwriter Collin. “It was more like a bum den than anything else. There was a giant hole in the floor of the kitchen that had a piece of plywood over it. In the backyard, weeds got like 6 feet high in the summer. It was its own thriving biome. We lived in trash.”

Musically, Collin describes the songs on Bell House taking shape through “a group of guys trying to get through some sort of mutual identity crisis. The lifestyle became overwhelming and really seeped into the music.”

In the time since the release of ST, Collin saw himself falling in love and getting married, leaving the old house on Bell Street, and moving back into his mom’s house with his wife in a suburb of the city. It’s here where the songs of Bell House were born. Being back under the same roof he had grown up in where there was “still writing on the walls from childhood,” Rausch found himself reflective and looking out at his life as a whole.

Take closing track “Champion” for instance, a song Collin says is dedicated to his and Kyle’s mother. “It’s just a note saying that she took care of us when we were young, and now it’s time for us to be there and take care of her.”

The reflective spirit sprinkled throughout the album is also evident on lead single, “Take The Doggie,” a bouncy, guitar driven track centered around wanting to secretly rescue their neighbor’s dog from an abusive owner, or on album highlight “Evil Sin,” which tackles the memory of drummer/bassist Konnor Ervin getting robbed.

But through all of this, Rausch kept his passion in his band, if even for nothing more than to – in his own words – have an excuse to keep hanging out with his brother and best friends.

“I have to keep Shy Boys alive to have a regular excuse to hang out with them,” says Collin. “To keep the band alive, I have to write songs. To be able to travel with my buddies, there has to be a new record.”

There is an old term that’s kicked around in country music called a “blood harmony” – in which two people in the same blood line, usually siblings, harmonize with one another in real time. Perhaps that is Shy Boys’ magic touch, putting them just a notch above all the other angels out there in the indie rock choir, and it makes sense, though no longer practicing evangelicals, Collin and Kyle grew up singing besides their parents in their church choir, so their keen sense of harmony is nothing new to them, but instead a life practice devoted to the voice as an instrument.

The result is Bell House, and the result is beautiful. There is something sensitive to the touch about this album, which is perhaps another way of saying that, well – Shy Boys are indeed Shy Boys. I envision the band as a solid unit, with each moving part as an equal. There is a heavy sense of family in everything they do both, literally and figuratively. Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 song “Highway Patrolman” always seems to come to mind;

“Yeah me and Franky out laughing and drinking,
Nothing feels better than blood on blood.”

-Kevin Morby

Polyvinyl Recording Company based in San Francisco is home to may bands we love and play on Wednesday MidDay Medley: Of Montreal, The Get Up Kids, Anna Burch, Jay Som, Xiu Xiu, Psychic Twin and more.

“Something Sweet: is the third single released from the band’s upcoming album. It came out today.

Konner Ervin talked about the status of The ACBs., and that there is a full length album, completely recorded, sitting in the vault waiting for the best opportunity to be released.

We talked with Ross Brown about Full Bloods and their critically acclaimed February 26, 2016 release Mild West released through High Dive Records. It was the second full length from Fullbloods. The band is made up of: Ross Brown, Jared Tomasino, David Seume, & Bill Pollock. Recorded at Westend Studios in Kansas City, Kansas by Mike Nolte. Mixed by Fullbloods. Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering. (Starfucker, Of Montreal).

Collin and Kyle Rausch talked about how Mike Nolte, who is a friend of the band and has worked on their recordings shared the band’s debut album with cohorts at Polyvinyl. When the band was getting ready to make a new album, Polyvinyl came calling.

Shy Boys released “Evil Sin” their 2nd single, with a video written & directed by Kyle Little

10:55

11. Shy Boys – “Evil Sin”
from: Bell House / Polyvinyl Record Co. / Expected August 3, 2018
[Shy Boys are an American indie-pop band from Kansas City, Missouri. The line-up consists of brothers Collin Rausch and Kyle Rausch, Konnor Ervin, Kyle Little and Ross Brown. On April 4th, 2018, it was announced that the band had signed to Polyvinyl Record Co. ]

KC musician and recording artist Keaton Conrad joins us live in our 90.1 FM Studios. Keaton Conrad has received critical acclaim, being regarded as “exceptionally promising” by The Kansas City Star and “making things happen on stages … with an engaging voice and passion for creating good music” from Ink Magazine. In 2015, Keaton Conrad released his debut EP, Panic & Blame, which contained five original songs that were heavily inspired by the pop rock sound he grew up on. His first full-length album, Waves, followed in January 2017 which ranged in style from pop rock to hip-hop to ambient. Conrad’s newest single “(If I Told You to) Stay” is set to be released on July 20th, 2018. A lyric video will be coming out soon. Keaton Conrad is playing Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park as part of the Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series, September 16.

Keaton Conrad, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

19 year old Kansas Native, Keaton Conrad records all of his own music in his home studio, mixing and mastering it all.

Keaton grew up in Olathe, Kansas (as did Calvin Arsenia, and Duncan Burnett). Keaton sang in High School Choir and performed in Olathe North West High School musicals.

11:12

13. Keaton Conrad – “What Am I Supposed to Do?”
from: What Am I Supposed to Do? – Single / Keaton Conrad / May 26, 2017
[19 year old Kansas native, Keaton Conrad released an original 5-song EP, Panic & Blame. In 2016 he recorded his first full-length LP entitled “Waves” released on January 27, 2017.]

We’re talking with KC musician and recording artist Keaton Conrad who joins us live in our 90.1 FM Studios. Keaton Conrad just released his new single “(If I Told You to) Stay” on Friday, July 20th. A lyric video will be coming soon. Keaton Conrad is playing Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park as part of Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series, Sept 16.

Keaton Conrad on the July 25, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Keaton Conrad is navigating the KC Music Scene while also getting ready for his second year in college at University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Heidi Lynne Gluck and Sid Sowder on the July 25, 2018 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Lawrence, Kansas based songwriter, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, Heidi Lynne Gluck is a originally from Manitoba, Canada. After transplanting herself from the plains of Manitoba to the midwestern plains of the United States, Heidi quickly became an in demand player, performing on stage and in the studio both as a solo artist and with renowned musicians including: The Roseline, Approach, Josh Berwanger, Juliana Hatfield & Some Girls, Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos, Lily & Madeleine, The Pieces, The Only Children, and others. In 2015 Heidi released her critically acclaimed EP, Only Girl In The Room, last year on Lotuspool Records. In 2016 Heidi Lynne Gluck released her full length album called, Pony Show, also on Lotuspool, and on vinyl. Heidi Lynne Gluck joins us to share her new 7″ vinyl 45 rpm release through Too Much Rock. Heidi Lynne Gluck plays a Too Much Rock Single release Show, Saturday, August 4, at 6:00 pm, at Mills record Company, 4045 Broadway Blvd, KCMO. Heidi plays a Lawrence Single Release Show, Thursday, August 9, at 7:30 pm, at White Schoolhouse, 1510 N 3rd St, Lawrence, Kansas, with Jess Williamson, and CS Luxem.

Heidi Lynne Gluck, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Also joining us is Sid Sowder, founder of Too Much Rock, a music blog site he created in 1997 to share his photos, videos & comments of live music shows he attends. The Too Much Rock Singles Series is a collection of 45 rpm singles that marry great songs with great bands all for the love of vinyl. Each old-school two-song single features one unique song paired with one cover chosen by Too Much Rock who press 500 limited edition copies and then simply give them to the band. Schwervon!, Rev Gusto, Josh Berwanger Band, The Uncouth, Hipshot Killer, Witch Jail, and Red Kate have all recorded for the Too Much Rock Single Series.

Next week, on August 1, Calvin Arsenia joins us for the entire show to play live and share tracks from his new recordings. Also joining us is writer and reporter CJ Janovy, who will talk about her new book, No Place Like Home, Lessons in Activism from LGBT Kansas, from University Press of Kansas.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

At 10:30 we talk with Shy Boys on the verge of their national release, Bell House, on Polyvinyl Records. Shy Boys originally formed as a trio in 2012 with brothers Collin Rausch, Kyle Rausch, and roommate Konnor Ervin (of The ACB’s fame). The three shared a love for 1960s era pop rock and started writing their own music. Kyle Little and Ross Brown (of Fullbloods) joined to make Shy Boys a 5-piece. In 2014 Shy Boys released their self-titled debut on High Dive Records. Their single “Bully Fight” was featured on Spin.com. In June 2014 the band recorded and released two more singles. “Life Is Peachy,” was featured on Stereogum. On April 4th, 2018, it was announced that Shy Boys had signed to Polyvinyl. Shy Boys play a Record Release Show, August 4, at 8:00 PM at recordBar, with The Whiffs, Jametatone (J Ashley Miller), and Blastocyst. More info at: http://www.shyboys.website

Keaton Conrad

At 11:00, KC musician and recording artist Keaton Conrad joins us live in our 90.1 FM Studios. Keaton Conrad has received critical acclaim, being regarded as “exceptionally promising” by The Kansas City Star and “making things happen on stages … with an engaging voice and passion for creating good music” from Ink Magazine. Keaton Conrad has just released his new single “(If I Told You to) Stay” on Friday, July 20th. A lyric video will be coming out soon. Keaton Conrad is playing Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park as part of the Lenexa Outdoor Concert Series, September 16. More information at http://www.keatonconradmusic.com

Heidi Lynne Gluck

At 11:30, Lawrence based musician Heidi Lynne Gluck shares her new Too Much Rock – Singles Series, 7” vinyl 45 rpm release. Heidi’s original song, “Party Line,” is on side A, with a side B cover of Camper Van Beethoven’s, ”Good Guys and Bad Guys.” Both tracks were produced and engineered by Heidi Gluck at 200 Studios, Lawrence, Kansas.The racks were co-produced, mixed and mastered by Paul Mahern at White Arc in Bloomington, Indiana. Heidi Gluck plays a Too Much Rock Single Release Show, Saturday, August 4, at 6:00 PM, at Mills Record Company, 4045 Broadway Blvd, KCMO. Heidi plays Lawrence Single Release Show, Thursday, August 9, at 7:30 pm, at White Schoolhouse, 1510 N 3rd St, Lawrence, Kansas with Jess Williamson, and CS Luxem. More info at http://www.heidilynnegluck.com

Too Much Rick – Single Series

Also joining us is Sid Sowder, founder of Too Much Rock, a music blog site he created in 1997 to share his photos, videos & comments of live music shows he attends. The Too Much Rock Singles Series is a collection of 45 rpm singles that marry great songs with great bands all for the love of vinyl. Each old-school two-song single features one unique song paired with one cover chosen by Too Much Rock who press 500 limited edition copies and then simply give them to the band. Schwervon!, Rev Gusto, Josh Berwanger Band, The Uncouth, Hipshot Killer, Witch Jail, Red Kate have all recorded for the Too Much Rock Single Series. More info at: http://www.toomuchrock.com

Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

The 117 Best Recordings of 2017

The 117 Best Recordings of 2017 are based on the playlists of this little ole radio show. We realize that these “Best of” lists can seem very subjective, however we ask that you please accept our list as a celebration of the year of music. In 2017 we’ve played nearly 1000 different songs on the show, and from nearly 375 New & MidCoastal Releases. More than 200 of these releases were New MidCoastal Releases. Over 35 of the bands and artists in our “Best of” list have joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios. This past year we’ve interviewed nearly 200 guests. 70 of the representative recordings in our “Best of” list were MidCoastal Releases. It’s all good!

1. Krystle Warren – Three The Hard Way / Parlour Door Music / August 18, 2017
[Produced by Krystle Warren and Ben Kane (D’Angelo, Emily King, PJ Morton). Recorded, engineered, and mixed by Ben Kane. Written & performed by Krystle Warren. Mixed at The Garden, Brooklyn. Mastered & cut by Alex DeTurk at Masterdisk. In 2016 Krystle Warren premiered this song and her other new songs from this album at the Middle of the Map Fest in a packed room at Californos in Westport and later at The Polsky Theatre for the Performing Arts Series of Johnson County Community College. For this record Krystle decided to play every instrument and perform all vocals & back up vocals, “playing bass, drums, lap steel, piano, guitar, and vocals directly to analog tape. She and Ben Kane recorded in Villetaneuse, France, a small town on the outskirts of Paris in a vintage ’70s era studio that offered just the right, rich sound to suggest the musical foundation for the record, and to do justice to the duo’s carefully balanced arrangements.” On the radio show last year Krystle shared inspirations for this record, early gospel recordings, that crossed over into Jazz from Pharoah Sanders, Edwin Hawkins, and The Swan Silvertones. Originally from KC, Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to Rubber Soul & Revolver from The Beatles. Krystle graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career in collaborating with area jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and NYC, Krystle was signed to a French label, Because Music, and moved to Paris to release “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs: A Time You May Embrace” a recording from a 13-day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections.] [Krystle Warren was on WMM on September 20. We played her music on 12 different shows this year.]

2. Making Movies – I Am Another You / Making Movies / May 26, 2017
[3rd full length release: from Kansas City based 4-piece band and made up of two sets of brothers: Enrique Chi on guitar and lead vocals; Diego Chi on bass & vocals; Juan-Carlos Chaurand on percussion & keyboards; and Andres Chaurand on drums. The band draws their influences from the origins of their families: Santiago, Panama, and Kansas City, Missouri, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Making Movies kicked off their 22-date Immigrants Are Beautiful Tour, a celebration of solidarity in the face of fear-mongering and hate. Frontman Enrique Chi shared, “It’s time to realize we are all part of this continuum, this beautifully flawed human race that has migrated from every continent to bring us all the beauty we enjoy today.” The band’s social statement is straightforward enough that they can express it in four words: “We Are All Immigrants.” In supporting that cause, a portion of all proceeds from the album and tour go to the National Immigration Law Center. Enrique Chi, singer-songwriter in Making Movies describes, “since making the album, the tides have shifted and the underbelly of systematic racism has reared its ugly head. It is no longer time to be silent is time for us to raise our voices.” The quartet has toured with Arcade Fire, Thievery Corporation, Cold War Kids, Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Tennis, Sergio Mendoza of Calexico, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Hurray for the Riff Raff.] [Making Movies played I Am Another You Experience at Knuckleheads, Saturday, December 2, at 8 PM at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester St, KCMO, with: Making Movies, The Elders, Jim Suptic (of the Get Up Kids), Bob Walkenhorst (of The Rainmakers), The Nace Brothers, Anthony Ladesich (The Hardship Letters), Hi-Lux, Wick (of Wick and the Tricks), Rory Cameron (of the Whiffs), and Quixotic.]

3. Calvin Arsenia – Catastrophe / Calvin Arsenia / February 14, 2017
[Calvin Arsenia premiered these songs in a live show at recordBar in November 2016 in a stage show that involved a company of 50 people, dancers, stilt walkers, special lighting, back up singers, guest artists. Since Calvin Arsenia came home to KC after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, he has released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. Standing at 6 foot 6 inches, Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 3.5 octave range, while playing piano, banjo, guitar and harp Calvin teaches music to elementary students. Calvin is also a graduate of Artist INC. Since 2014 we have been celebrating the music of Calvin Arsenia. He has played Folk Alliance International, Kansas City Fringe Fest, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts, The Middle of the Map Fest., The Folly Theatre. Calvin recently returned home from a three month US/European Outlyre Tour where he has played San Francisco, Portland, Vancouver, NYC, Boston, Edinburgh, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Lyon and Paris. in over 40 shows, with musician and friend Simon Huntley who plays with Quixotic. Calvin is working to release new music from Calvin’s June 11th, Live Recording at Kansas City’s newly restored Greenwood Social Hall, at 1750 Bellevue Ave. in KC. ] [Calvin Arsenia played Big Bang Buffet’s “Black Sheep Rising,” Tuesday, April 11, at 8:00 at The Buffalo Room. A benefit for 90.1 FM KKFI featuring Ron Megee, Lisa Cordes, Jon “Piggy” Cupit, The Sleazebeats, Kristie Stremel, Jen Harris, Maria Vasquez Boyd, Jen Appell, Bill Belzer, Charlie Colborne, Mark Manning, Susan Cedarquis-Brewington, BJ McBride, Michael McQuary, Janet Henry, Ryan Wilks, and Nico Gray.] [Calvin Arsenia was on WMM on Feb. 15, April 12, Sept. 20, and Oct. 25 and we’ve played his music on 17 shows this year.]

4. Katy Guillen & The Girls – Remember What You Knew Before / KG&G / Nov 11, 2017
[For this new album the band worked with producer Lennon Bone. The band reworked songs from the 2012 album Katy & Go-Go, the 2014 Katy & The Girls eponymous debut album, and from 2016’s “Heavy Days” with one new song. Katy Guillen and The Girls, were formed in September of 2012 in Kansas City. The blues influenced roots rock trio is made up of Katy Guillen on guitar & vocals, Claire Adams on bass & vocals, & Stephanie Williams on drums.] [Katy Guillen & The Girls joined us on WMM on November 8.]

5. Mysterious Clouds – Panic on the Non Meridian / Haymaker Records / May 26, 2017
[For this release the band writes: “Crazy times call for crazy music. Panic is a reflection of the turmoil in our hearts, minds, and country. Sometimes you have to embrace the wild times to get a clear mental picture of how to make thing better.” Mysterious Clouds is one of the musical projects of Kansas City, Kansas based post-punk psychedelic musical artists, Dedric Moore and Delaney Moore and special guests. The brothers are also founders of the critically acclaimed band Monta At Odds. Mysterious Clouds also releaxed the EP, Clear Reflection, February 3, 2017. Their song “Clear Reflection” was also include ion the Haymakers records compilation, Fairgounds Vol. 2 Released March 24, 2017.] [Mysterious Clouds played Outer Reaches Fest, Friday Sept. 29, at recordBar.] [Dedric Moore joined us on WMM on September 27.]

6. Kemet the Phantom – The Invisible Man / Center of Attention / March 9, 2017
[Kemet Coleman is Kemet the Phantom, a Kansas City based musicians who calls himself a rap Artist, actor, and Urbanist. Kemet is a member of the Hip-Hop duo COA (Center of Attention) and is the lead singer of the 8-member Funk/Rap/Soul band The Phantastics. Kemet, shines as a complete showman embracing a James Brown-esque persona via syncopated vocals, rhythmic dance moves and dapper costume style. Kemet the Phantom is a two time Pitch Music Award nominee for “Best Hip-Hop Act.” Kemet created the first ever Kansas City mayoral candidate rap song for the Sly James for Mayor campaign in 2010. A University of Missouri – Kansas City alumnus, Kemet, created “Gold and Blue” for UMKC’s sports teams, which has garnered thousands of plays on YouTube and has been featured on prime-time television commercials for the university. More information at: http://www.kemetthephantom.com.] [Kemet The Phantom played Brass & Boujee, October 6, at Ruins Pub, with Marcus Lewis presenting, big band arrangements of Kemet and Kadesh’s original material for his 18-piece jazz ensemble] [Kemet joined us on WMM on October 4.]

7. Andrew Foshee – Strange Relations / Andrew Foshee / October 31, 2017
[Andrew Foshee on acoustic guitar, vocals, sampling, keys; Jon Estes on classical guitar, electric guitar, standup bass, piano, keys, percussion, string arrangements; Jeremy Fetzer on electric guitar, acoustic guitar; Jack Lawrence on bass guitar; Dave Racine on drums, percussion; Alexis Saski on backing vocals; Jem Cohen on backing vocals; Molly Parden on backing vocals; Liz Estes on viola, violin; Amy Helman on viola, violin; Eduardo DuQuesne on words of encouragement. Produced, engineered and mixed by Andrija Tokic
At The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN. Mastered by John Baldwin At John Baldwin Mastering in Nashville, TN. Additional production and sequencing done by Andrew At Ye Ol’ Basement Studio in Kansas City, MO. Cover art by Mariano Peccinetti. Andrew Foshee is a songwriter from Kansas City, Missouri. His knack for cinematic home recordings has lead to several song placements in tv and new media. Earlier this year he teamed up with producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Benjamin Booker) and a high clergy of guest musicians at Tokic’s Nashville studio, The Bomb Shelter, to fully realize his latest project. More info at: http://www.andrewfoshee.com] [Andrew Foshee joined us on WMM on November 1.]

8. Berwanger – Berwanger and The Star Invaders / Berwanger / October 28, 2017
[Recorded in Norman, OK at Blackwatch Studios. This record features musicians from The Anniversary, Pink, Cher, Limbeck, the Flaming Lips, & Broncho. Josh wrote the songs for this record after witnessing UFO’s on family vacation 2 years ago. The songs for this record can almost make a trilogy collection including his 2 previous records, and bridge the gap nicely between his earlier bands, The Anniversary and The Only Children. Josh Berwanger on guitar & vocals, Ricky Salthouse on guitar & vocals, Eva Gardner on bass, Jonny Phillip on drums & cymbals & percussion, Matt Duckworth on percussion, and Penny Pitchlynn on backing vocals. Josh Berwanger was in The Anniversary, a Kansas band that released, 2000’s Designing a Nervous Breakdown & 2002’s Your Majesty and sold over 100,000 records before breaking up on tour in Japan. The band recently reunited for new shows and a tour this year. Berwanger was also in the band, The Only Children, and released, 2004’s Change of Living & 2007’s Keeper of Youth. When Keeper of Touth ended Josh Berwanger took a break and became a high school basketball coach. In the 2012 Josh formed the Josh Berwanger band. Berwanger released the EP Demonios November 11, 2016.]

9. Samantha Fish – Belle of The West / Ruf Records / November 3, 2017
[Samantha Fish’s second full-length release within eight months, and her sixth since debuting in 2009. Produced by Luther Dickinson. Growing up in Kansas City, Samantha Fish switched from drums to guitar at the tender age of 15. She spent much of her time in local watering holes listening to visiting blues bands. Samantha caught the attention of Ruf Records who released her album, Girls with Guitars, which found her co-billed with Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde. That led to her forming her own trio and recording three more albums, Runaway (2011), Black Wind Howlin’ (2013) and Wild Heart (2015). She was awarded, Best Artist Debut at the 2012 Blues Music Awards in Memphis. In March of 2017 Fish released: Chills & Fever, where she traveled to Detroit to collaborate with members of the Detroit Cobras, a band popular in the Midwest punk/blues scene. The collaboration included Joe Mazzola on guitar, Steve Nawara on bass, Kenny Tudrick with Bob Mervak on keys, and Mark Levron and Travis Blotsky on trumpet and saxophone. The band covers songs from Jackie DeShannon, Jerry Ragavoy, Bert Berns and Allen Toussaint while also revisiting some earlier demos she cut along with producer Bobby Harlow.]

10. Scott Hrabko & The Rabbits – Summer / Scott Hrabko / June 23, 2017
[3rd full length album release and follow up to his 2015 release Biscuits and Gravity. Scott Hrabko on vocals & guitar; Marco Pascolini on pedal steel, lap steel, and baritone guitar; Fred Wickham on lead guitar; Josh Arnold on bass & vocals; and Tim Higgins on drums, with guest artists: Brett Hodges on fiddle, Havilah Bruders on vocals, Dan Bliss on guitar, Mikal Shapiro on vocals, Chad Brothers on guitar & vocals, Bart Colliver on piano and accordian, and Kevin Dolan on mandolin. Recorded in part and mixed in full by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound. Singer-songwriter Scott Hrabko has played with Kansas City’s oldest garage band, The Original Sinners, as well as various incarnations of the 1980s bands: The Splinters, and The Andersons. In the 1990s he performed as a solo artist in coffee houses with Iris Dement and Howard Eisberg. Scott Hrabko’s 2014 critically acclaimed solo release, “Gone Places” was said to be 30 years in the making.]
[Scott Hrabko & The Rabbits played a CD Release Show, Friday, June 23 at 7:00 PM at The Brick.] [Scott Hrabko joined us on WMM on June 14.]

11. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Soul of a Woman / Daptone / Nov. 17, 2017
[6th and last studio album. In November 2016, Sharon Jones suffered a stroke while watching the 2016 United States presidential election results and another the following day. Jones remained alert and lucid during the initial period of her hospital stay, jokingly claiming that the news of Donald Trump’s victory was responsible for her stroke. She died on November 18, 2016, in Cooperstown, New York, aged 60. Sharon Lafaye Jones was born May 4, 1956 and died this year on November 18, 2016. She was an American soul and funk singer. Although she collaborated with Lou Reed, David Byrne and others, she is best known as lead singer of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, a soul and funk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Jones experienced breakthrough success relatively late in life, releasing her first record when she was 40 years old. In 2014, Jones was nominated for her first Grammy, in the category Best R&B Album, for Give the People What They Want. Jones was born in Augusta, Georgia, the daughter of Ella Mae Price Jones and Charlie Jones, living in adjacent North Augusta, South Carolina. Jones was the youngest of six children; her siblings are Dora, Charles, Ike, Willa and Henry. Jones’s mother raised her deceased sister’s four children as well as her own. She moved the family to New York City when Sharon was a young child. As children, she and her brothers would often imitate the singing and dancing of James Brown. Her mother happened to know Brown, who was also from Augusta.Jones grew up in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. In 1975, she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. She attended Brooklyn College. A regular gospel singer in church, Jones often entered talent shows backed by local funk bands in the early 1970s. Session work then continued with backing vocals, often credited to Lafaye Jones, but in the absence of any recording contract as a solo singer, she spent many years working as a corrections officer at Rikers Island and as an armored car guard for Wells Fargo, until receiving a mid-life career break in 1996 after she appeared on a session backing the soul and deep funk legend Lee Fields. Sharon Jones was part of the very beginning of Daptone Records Daptone Records’ first release was a full-length album by Sharon Jones. A new band, the Dap-Kings, was formed from the former members of the Soul Providers and the Mighty Imperials. Some of the musicians went on to record for Lehman’s Soul Fire label, while some formed the Budos Band, an Afro-beat band. From the original Soul Providers, Roth (also known as Bosco Mann) on bass, guitarist and emcee Binky Griptite, percussionist Fernando Velez, trumpet player Anda Szilagyi and organist Earl Maxton were joined by original Mighty Imperials saxophonist Leon Michels and drummer Homer Steinweiss, plus Neal Sugarman from Sugarman 3, to form The Dap-Kings. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, then released the album Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings in May of 2002, for which they received immediate attention and acclaim from enthusiasts, DJs and collectors. Next they released, Naturally (2005), 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007), I Learned the Hard Way (2010), and Give the People What They Want (2014). They are seen by many as the spearhead of a revival of soul and funk.]

12. Truckstop Honeymoon – Big Things and Little Things / S. & M. West / Jan 6, 2017
[Katie West & Mike West are based in Lawrence, KS, and were relocated here after Hurricane Katrina and the devastation of their home. Hollering with all their hearts over a five string banjo and a doghouse bass, Truckstop Honeymoon live the life they sing about. Touring across three continents with four kids and a truck load of songs, Katie and Mike West tell stories about the strangeness of everyday life. Their music combines elements of bluegrass, music hall jazz and straight up rock’n’roll. Vaudevillian wit and showmanship spike their energetic live shows, while the fearless honesty of their songs touches the hearts of listners around the world. In eleven years Truckstop Honeymoon have released eight CDs and a full length documentary film on Baton Rouge label, Squirrel Records. They perform at International folk festivals, rock clubs, neighborhood bars, house concerts and hay barns from Nebraska to Tasmania. Truckstop Honeymoon’s story begins in New Orleans, where Katie played wash-tub bass and blues piano in the streets of the French Quarter. There she met Mike, who slung a banjo and sold his CDs to tourists as a curative for hangovers and small mindedness. After a court house wedding, they hit the road together. They spent their wedding night in a truckstop somewhere between Lafayette and the Atchafalaya Swamp, where Truckstop Honeymoon was born. More info at: http://www.truckstophoneymoon.com.]

13. LCD Soundsystem – american dream / DFA – Columbia / September 1, 2017
[4th studio album by American rock band LCD Soundsystem, released on September 1, 2017 through DFA and Columbia. It was first announced on January 5, 2016, the day after it was revealed that the band was reuniting after a disbandment lasting nearly five years. It is the band’s first album in seven years, following This Is Happening (2010). Prior to release, LCD Soundsystem performed at large music festivals as well as smaller shows to promote their reunion. “Call the Police” and “American Dream” were released together as the album’s lead single on May 5, 2017, and “Tonite” was released as the second single on August 16, 2017. The album received widespread acclaim from music critics. The album performed well commercially and became the band’s first number-one album in the United States.]

14. Emmaline Twist – Dissimulation 1 EP / Emmaline Twist / October 23, 2017
[Emmaline Twist, Kansas City’s Darkwave / Post-Punk / Shoegaze project have released “Dissimulation 1” : four songs in digital format, their first since last year’s release of “Vega” b/w “Moon Eyes”. Meredith McGrade on vocals & guitar, Kristin Conkright on bass, Jonathan Knecht on drums, and Krysztof Nemeth on baritone Guitar. Recorded, Mixed, and Produced at Massive Sound by Paul Malinowski, and Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering, these four songs showcase the dark and driving nature of the Emmaline Twist sound, complete with all the mood and texture that the band has crafted through their live performances. Matched with compelling cover-art created by Amy Abshier, “Dissimulation 1” is perfect for nighttime drives, cloudy skies, and battle cries. More info at: https://emmalinetwist.bandcamp.com/%5D

15. The Roseline – Blood / King Forward Revords / September 29, 2017
[From the 5th album of the Lawrence, Kansas, based alt-country, Americana, rock band, formed by Colin Halliburton with friends in 2005. The Roseline has been through dozens of lineup changes. The current lineup includes: Colin Halliburton on guitar & vocals; Heidi Gluck on bass & vocals, Ehren Starks on keyboards, Kris Losure on guitar, Jeff Jackson on pedal steel & guitar, and Jim Piller on drums. Roseline released their last album, Townie, on June 19, 2015. More info at: http://www.roselinemusic.com] [The Roseline played an Album Release Show, TOctober 5, at The Brick, with Chase the Horseman, and Justin Klaas.]

16. Moses Sumney – Aromanticism / Jagjaguwar / September 22, 2017
[Debut studio full length album by American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney. It is a concept album about “lovelessness as a sonic dreamscape” that “seeks to interrogate the idea that romance is normative and necessary.” The record was written and produced by Sumney, with assistance from numerous musicians. Moses Frimpong Sumney was born May 19, 1990 in San Bernardino, California to Ghanaian parents. He moved with his family back to Ghana at the age of 10. Sumney described his childhood as “Americanized” by this age and had difficulty adjusting to the culture of Ghana. He did not learn to play any instruments until he was older, writing a cappella music for years instead. Sumney did not perform his musical compositions publicly until he was 20.[1] He attended the University of California, Los Angeles. He is based in Los Angeles, California. His self recorded debut EP, Mid-City Island, was released in 2014 and self recorded onto a 4-track recorder given to him by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek. The EP was described by Pitchfork as “primarily composed of first-takes and improvisation; the music is stirring but purposefully incomplete”. Sumney has performed as an opening act for Solange, Sufjan Stevens, and Erykah Badu. Sumney released another 5-song EP in 2016, titled Lamentations which featured a guest appearance from Thundercat.]

17. Hermon Mehari – Bleu / Unlabeled Publishing / March 17, 2017
[Debut solo release from Kansas City based jazz trumpeter. Hermon Mehari featuring
Logan Richardson on saxophone, Aaron Parks on piano, Peter Schlamb on vibraphone, Rick Rosato on bass, Ryan J. Lee on drums, and a guest appearance by Kevin M. Johnson on vocals. Hermon Mehari grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, home of Lincoln University. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City Music Conservatory. In 2015 he finished first, at the prestigious Carmine Carusa International Jazz Trumpet Competition at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas. Hermon was a semifinalist in the 2014 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2014 he released the CD “Our Journey” with Diverse, which was recorded in Paris featuring Logan Richardson on alto saxophone. Hermon was also the winner of the 2008 National Trumpet Competiton and placed second in the International Trumpet Guild competition in Sydney, Australia. He splits his time between touring and playing all over the world and creative projects in Kansas City. Hermon has collaborated with Cat Mahari on BAM! the Workshop, he is also a founding member of Diverse Jazz, Diverse Trio, and The Buhs. He also plays with Peter Schlamb, Making Movies, John Velghe & the Prodigal Sons. Hermon was featured on the world-renowned saxophonist Bobby Watson’s 2013 release, “Check Cashing Day”. More information at: http://www.hermonmehari.com] [Hermon Mehari featuring Peter Schlamb played the 1900 Building, at 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, April 19.]

18. The xx – I See You / Young Turks Recordings / January 13, 2017
[3rd studio album by indie pop band The xx, formed in 2005 in Wandsworth, London. Members met whilst studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial, Four Tet, and Pierce Brosnan. Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft started the band as a duo when they were 15 with Jamie Smith joining in 2006. I See You is the follow-up to their sophomore album Coexist, and is their first release in more than four years. Produced by Rodaidh McDonald and Jamie xx, who released his solo debut In Colour, May 2015. The band has stated that the record has a more distinctive sound and a more positive, open and “expansive” concept than the previous two albums.][The xx played Starlight Theatre Oct 3, with Perfume Genius.]

19. Momma’s Boy – Liquid Courage EP / Independent / February 25, 2017
[Momma’s Boy, an Indie Surf Pop 4-piece band from KCMO, formed December 2015, and made up of former members of Rev Gusto: Peter Beatty on guitar & vocals, Shaun Crowley on guitar & vocals, Quinn Hernandez on drums, and Jared Bajkowski on bass. Recorded at Element Recording Studios with Joel Nanos. First known for throwing house shows at The Shawnee Manor with local and national acts including Hinds and Glass Animals, Momma’s Boy is leaving the basement to spread their tunes across the Midwest.] [Momma’s Boy released their debut EP, February 25, at 7:00 PM at The Tank Room, with Rachel Mallin and The Wild Type, and Scruffy & the Janitors.] [Momma’s Boy joined us on WMM on February 22.]

20. Jay Som – Everybody Works / Polyvinyl Records / March 10, 2017
[from http://www.jaysom.bandcamp.com: The proper album as Jay Som, Melina Duterte, 22. If last year’s aptly named, Turn Into Compilation showcased a fuzz-loving artist in flux, chronicling her mission to master bedroom recording, then the rising Oakland star’s latest, Everybody Works, is the LP equivalent of mission accomplished. Duterte is as DIY as ever, writing, recording, playing, & producing every sound beyond a few backing vocal, but she takes us places we never could have imagined, wedding lo-fi rock to hi-fi home orchestration, & weaving evocative autobiographical poetry into energetic punk, electrified folk, and dreamy alt-funk. And while Duterte’s early stuff found her bucking against life’s lows, Everybody Works is about turning that angst into fuel for forging ahead. “Last time I was angry at the world,” she says. “This is a note to myself: everybody’s trying their best on their own set of problems & goals. We’re all working for something.” Everybody Works was made in three furious, caffeinated weeks in October. She came home from the road, moved into a new apartment, set up her bedroom studio (with room for a bed this time) and dove in. Duterte even ditched most of her demos, writing half the LP on the spot and making lushly composed pieces like “Lipstick Stains” all the more impressive. While the guitar-grinding Jay Som we first fell in love with still reigns on shoegazey shredders like “1 Billion Dogs” and in the melodic distortions of “Take It,” we also get the sublimely spacious synth-pop beauty of “Remain,” and the luxe, proggy funk of “One More Time, Please.” Duterte’s production approach was inspired by the complexity of Tame Impala, the simplicity of Yo La Tengo, and the messiness of Pixies. “Also, I was listening to a lot of Carly Rae Jepsen to be quite honest,” she says. “Her E•MO•TION album actually inspired a lot of the sounds on Everybody Works.” There’s story in the sounds—even in the fact that Duterte’s voice is more present than before. As for the lyrics, our host leaves the meaning to us. So if we can interpret, there’s a bit about the aspirational and fleeting nature of love in the opener, and the oddity of turning your art into job on the titular track. There’s even one tune, “The Bus Song,” that seems to be written as a dialog between two kids, although it plays like vintage Broken Social Scene and likely has more to do with yearning for things out of reach. While there’s no obvious politics here, Duterte says witnessing the challenges facing women, people of color, and the queer community lit a fire. And when you reach the end of Everybody Works, “For Light,” you’ll find a mantra suitable for anyone trying, as Duterte says, “to find your peace even if it’s not perfect.” As her trusty trumpet blows, she sings: “I’ll be right on time, open blinds for light, won’t forget to climb.”]

21. Perfume Genius – No Shape / Matador / May 5, 2017
[1st single from 4th album . Perfume Genius, is the stage name for Seattle-based solo artist Mike Hadreas who was born in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington. Hadreas studied painting in school and took piano lessons as a child. His mother was a special education teacher,and is now an assistant principal at a middle school. His parents divorced when he was a teenager. Growing up, Hadreas was the only openly gay student at his school, and he received death threats which were not addressed by the administration. He dropped out of high school during his senior year. Two years after dropping out, he was attacked by several young men in his neighborhood. He moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn and worked as a doorman for a club in the East Village. In 2005, Hadreas returned home to Seattle and began recording music. In 2008, Hadreas set up a MySpace page under the name Perfume Genius, and thus began his music career. Hadreas’s music explores topics including sexuality, his personal struggle with Crohn’s disease, domestic abuse, and the dangers faced by gay men in contemporary society. No Shape was produced by Blake Mills (Fiona Apple. John Legend, Alabama Shakes). The album was praised by critics. Pitchfork awarded it an 8.8 and named it “Best New Album”, deeming it “his most realized album yet, a tender and transcendental protest record of love and devotion.” The Guardian commented that “No Shape sounds like a unique talent coming into full bloom.”] [Perfume Genius played Starlight Theatre, October 10, opening for The xx]

22. Valerie June – The Order of Time / June Time – Concord Music / March 10, 2017
[Valerie June Hockett (born January 10, 1982), known as Valerie June, is an Americana singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Her sound encompasses a mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, country, Appalachian and bluegrass. June was the oldest of five children. As a child growing up in Humboldt, June was exposed to gospel music at her local church and R&B and soul music via her father. As a teenager, her first job was with her father – a promoter for gospel singers and Prince, K-Ci & JoJo, and Bobby Womack – helping him hang posters in town. June relocated to Memphis in 2000 and began recording and performing at the age of 19, initially with her then-husband Michael Joyner, in the duo Bella Sun. After her marriage ended she began working as a solo artist, combining blues, gospel and Appalachian folk, in a style that she describes as “organic moonshine roots music”, and learning guitar, banjo, and lap-steel guitar. She became associated with the Memphis-based Broken String Collective. After self-releasing three albums, her debut album as a signed artist, Pushin’ Against a Stone, was released in the UK and Europe through Sunday Best Recordings on May 6, 2013, and through Concord Music Group in August 2013. The album includes several songs co-written with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who co-produced it with Kevin Augunas. The album was so titled to commemorate the story of her life. June said “I feel I’ve spent my life pushing against a stone. And the jobs I’ve had have been fitting for getting a true feel for how the traditional artists I loved came home after a hard day to sit on the porch and play tunes until bedtime.” The record includes performances by Booker T. Jones, who co-wrote one of the songs contained on the album.]

23. Julien Baker – Turn Out The Lights / Matador / October 27, 2017
[2nd solo release from Julien Rose Baker, born Sept 29, 1995. She is a singer & guitarist from Memphis, TN. She released her debut studio album, Sprained Ankle, in 2015. In 2010, Baker cofounded a band called The Star Killers, which renamed itself Forrister in 2015. During her freshman year at MTSU, Baker began writing songs on her own, often in the university practice rooms late at night. With a friend, Michael Hegner, she recorded an EP at Spacebomb Studios, self-released in the winter of 2014 on Bandcamp which became the studio album Sprained Ankle, in October 2015. Sprained Ankle topped many 2015 end-of-the-year lists and its success led to features in The New Yorker and The New York Times. On March 7, 2016 she performed on an NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert where she referenced a new song called Sad Song #11, later released as “Funeral Pyre” with “Distant Solar Systems” as the b-side. Baker has opened for Death Cab for Cutie, Conor Oberst, The Decemberists, Belle & Sebastian, and Paramore. In 2017 she signed to Matador Records. Turn Out the Lights, was recorded at TN’s Ardent Studios with help from Sorority Noise’s Cameron Boucher.]

25. The Country Duo – Live At Sun Studio EP / The Country Duo / September 1, 2017
[Recorded live at Sun Studio, Memphis TN on August 14, 2016 for the Sun Studio Sessions television show as seen on PBS across the United States. All songs written by Kasey Rausch on vocals & acoustic guitar, and Marco Pascolini on pedal steel & baritone guitars. Engineered by Curry Weber, assisted by Ples Hampton at Sun Studio. Mixed by Paul Malinowski, Mastered by Chad Meise at Massive Sound, KCMO. Kasey Rausch is one of the first musicians to play live on WMM. She is a 5th generation musician, songwriter and co-producer of River Trade Radio on KKFI 90.1FM. Her family and musical roots can be found in Parkville, Kansas City, the Missouri Ozarks, Winfield, Kansas, and deep Southeast Texas. Her third album, Guitar in Hand debuted at #3 on the Roots Music Reporting charts and was voted one of the top three albums of the year by readers of The Pitch. She was named 2013’s Female Performer of the Year by The Farmer’s Turnpike on KMXN 92.9 FM. Marco Pascolini grew up in a family of artists. His parents were both artists at Hallmark. For more than twenty years Marco Pascolini has built a musical reputation as one of the most well-respected musicians in Kansas City playing in the bands Scott Hrabko and the Rabbits, Folkicide, Dead Voices, Mr. Marco’s V7, Expassionates, the Brannock Device, Snakebite Orphans, the Fred Wickham band, with Kasey Rausch in The Naughty Pines. Marco is also a graphic artist and has desonged multiple album covers and sleve designs including the new Victor & Penny 7″ Single.] [The Country Duo joined us on WMM on November 15.]

26. Betse & Clarke – Tunes We Like / Betse & Clarke / September 13, 2017
[Released only in analog on cassette featuring Betse Ellis on standard & cross-tuned fiddles, Clarke Wyatt on banjos & guitar, and some selections played by the Brushy Creek String Band, with Brett Hodges on guitar and Alex Mallett on bass. Seneca Square Dance is from Fiddlin’ Sam Long, recorded in 1926 for Gennett Records. Long is said to have been the first Ozark fiddler recorded. Many who play the tune today use a different chord progression than was originally recorded by Long. Betse & Clarke used Long’s beautifully simple progression. With Betse on standard fiddle, Clarke on standard G banjo, Brett Hodges on guitar, Alex Mallett on bass. “Tunes We Like” was produced as the first in a series of instrumental recordings. Released at the Walnut Valley Music Festival in Winfield, Kansas, Sept 2017, and represents a returning interest in analog processes. Betse & Clarke will continue this model, with plans to record next on analog reel-to-reel tape for the next release in the series. The music may see an online release and digital distribution, but the plan is that all physical copies will be in analog format. Recorded by Wyatt live with no overdubs at home in KCMO, the instrumental collection highlights traditional Ozark tunes, learned from early string band recordings of the 1920s and from later Ozark heroes such as Bob Holt and soon to be 101 year old Violet Hensley. Betse & Clarke are a traditional and future folk duo with Betse Ellis on fiddles, violins, viola & vocals and Clarke Wyatt on banjos, guitar, cello, multi-instruments. Betse & Clarke have played and toured around the world. Individually their musical roots go deep in the KC music scene. Clarke Wyatt is a founding member of Mr. Marco’s V7, and Betse Ellis is a founding member of The Wilders. Last year Betse & Clarke released ”River Still Rise,” originals and reworked traditional compositions presented “to be enjoyed as a musical adventure, much like the river exploration of the famous duo Lewis & Clark, an inspiration for the band’s name.”] [B & C played live on WMM Oct 4.]

27. Broken Social Scene – Hug of Thunder / Arts & Crafts / July 7, 2017
[Hug of Thunder is the 5th studio album by Toronto, Ontario based, indie rock musical collective Broken Social Scene that was formed in 1999 and continues 15 members. Most of its members play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly in the city of Toronto. These associated acts include Metric, Feist, Stars, Apostle of Hustle, Do Make Say Think, KC Accidental, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, Amy Millan, and Jason Collett. The group’s sound combines elements of all of its members’ respective musical projects, and is occasionally considered baroque pop. It includes grand orchestrations featuring guitars, horns, woodwinds, and violins, unusual song structures, and an experimental, and sometimes chaotic production style from David Newfeld, who produced the second and third albums.After declaring a hiatus in September 2011, Broken Social Scene performed at the Field Trip Arts & Crafts Music Festival in 2013 and a couple of festivals in 2015, the latter of which prompted band members Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Charles Spearin, Justin Peroff, and Andrew Whiteman to discuss recording new material. “When we’re working, we understand that there will be a lot more input, so we leave space in the music as we’re writing it,” Spearin said. “We would send out invitations for all the usual crew, and say, ‘Hey, we’re doing this again. Would you be interested in being part of this?'” In the end, 18 musicians were credited on Hug of Thunder. During sessions for the album, Leslie Feist conceived the idea for the title track, her first lead vocal on a Broken Social Scene song since 2006. Drew explained that the title represents “exactly who we are. That is our show. We’re trying to create that hug of thunder. That sound. That embrace amongst the chaos.”]

28. The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir / Nonesuch Records / March 10, 2017
[50 Song Memoir is the eleventh studio album by American indie pop band The Magnetic Fields. 50 Song Memoir is an autobiographical concept album that chronicles the first 50 years of songwriter Stephin Merritt’s life, with one song for each year that he has lived. Stephin Merritt began recording on his 50th birthday on February 9, 2015. The album was produced by Merritt with additional production by Thomas Bartlett and Charles Newman. Merritt sings on all fifty tracks and plays more than one hundred instruments throughout. 50 Song Memoir is available in five-LP and five-CD editions that include an interview by Daniel Handler and facsimile handwritten lyrics by Stephin Merritt, and as a bound book. The fully staged live shows in support of 50 Song Memoir are directed by José Zayas. The Magnetic Fields have been expanded to include an additional three musicians for the tour, with each of the seven playing seven different instruments. On the tour the band play the entirety of 50 Song Memoir in two halves across two nights at each venue.]

29. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound / Southestern / June 16, 2017
[Michael Jason Isbell was born February 1, 1979 and is a singer-songwriter & guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, two miles from the Alabama/Tennessee state line. He is best known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers, from 2001 to 2007. He has won two Grammy Awards. This is the 6th studio album by Jason Isbell, credited with the 400 Unit. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who also produced Isbell’s previous two records: 2013’s Southeastern and 2015’s Something More Than Free. The Nashville Sound was nominated for Best Americana Album in the 2018 Grammy Awards. The 400 Unit, is primarily made up of musicians from the Muscle Shoals, Alabama, area: Sadler Vaden on guitar, backup vocals; Jimbo Hart on bass, backup vocals; Derry DeBorja on keyboard, accordion, backup vocals; Chad Gamble on drums, backup vocals; Amanda Shires on fiddle, backup vocals. “The 400 Unit” is a colloquial name for the psychiatric ward of Florence, Alabama’s Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, which is now named the Behavioral Health Center, and is located on the hospital’s first floor. It was originally called the 400 unit because it was in a separate building from the main building’s 3-story hospital. After renovation in the 1980s, the name was changed. Isbell married singer-songwriter and violinist Amanda Shires, with whom he’d worked on and off for a decade, in February 2013, two days after they finished Southeastern. Musician Todd Snider married them. The couple had a baby girl, Mercy Rose, on September 1, 2015. Isbell has lived in Nashville, Tennessee, since 2011. He is an Atlanta Braves fan and a Democrat. In November of 2017 Isbell was asked on Twitter “Why do we have to inject politics in every aspect of our life can’t we just enjoy the music and the football games?” He responded “Until you are the one being treated unfairly, that’s easy to say.”]

30. Sampha – Process / Young Turks Recordings / February 3, 2017
[Sampha Sisay was born November 16, 1988. He performs under the mononym Sampha. He is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Morden, South London, United Kingdom. Sampha is known widely for his collaborative work with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Kanye West, Solange and others. Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013). Sampha’s debut album, Process, won the 2017 Mercury Prize.]

31. Of Tree – Sorry We’re Chosen EP / Of Tree / June 1, 2017
[Of Tree is Benjamin Parks on guitar & vocals, Laurel Morgan Parks on violin & fiddle & vocals and John Bersuch on percussion & sub-bass. The band explains “we like to build layers, loop strings, bow guitars and mix sampled beats with real ones as a backdrop for melodies on voice and traditional instruments. Emotional and expressive, our music draws inspiration from loss and triumph, failure and hope.” Of Tree began in 2009 and has taken many forms as it has evolved over time, including a full 5 piece folk band and, at one time, a classical trio backing Parks’ voice and guitar. Of Tree launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help record their new album and release their music on vinyl. Of Tree have been actively writing music for this project since the summer of 2016. Laurel writes “As a married couple its been quite a road for us to be able work through music together without taking things too personally (as people in relationships tend to do), but the magic happened last summer when music started pouring out of us and we were able just allow it to happen. Both of us come from fairly strict religious backgrounds and a lot of our lyrics have to do with healing from those experiences. We also deal with themes of finding new footing in life, moving beyond the past and letting go. Really this album is all about healing on a very personal level.” Laurel writes that she is, “very interested in pushing the boundaries of what instrumentation I can marry to my classical violin training. I have been cross pollinating between electronic music I write on the computer using midi inputs with melodies I write on my violin. I enjoy putting a techno beat behind a folk instrument such as the Kalimba or chime and then morphing that into a journey of layered strings and melodic hooks. I am always interested in melody over lyrics. A lot of the music I wrote for this album is inspired from studying folk traditions such as Celtic fiddling, thematic movie music and Peruvian icaros. ” John Bersuch, has been playing with Of Tree since November of 2016. He adds tasteful beats and enjoys thinking outside the box. He once brought a tree to an “Of Tree” show and played it as a percussive instrument. Ben Parks is a visual artist who also plays in the band Slights with Matthew Dunehoo. Laurel Parks also plays in The Wires, John Bersuch is in Bacon Shoe, RLT, and many others.][Of Tree joined us on WMM on May 24]

32. KD Kuro – Good-Luck / Kwame Boateng / August 1, 2017
[This track was produced by Chase the Horseman. KD Kuro is the musical project of Kwame Boateng, a Kansas City based rapper. He was born in Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from Olathe South High School in 2008. After attending Coffeyville Community College Kwame as KD Kuro started his rap career in 2012 and has been cultivating and refining his sound over the course of the last 5 years. Kwame grew up with musical influences like N.E.R.D and Missy Elliot that helped to mold the music he creates. His debut album was co-produced by Chase the Horseman and Nathan “Geesace” Gisecke. KD Kuro’s debut album is available at: http://www.kwamekuro.bandcamp.com] [KD Kuro Kwame Boateng & Chase The Horseman joined us live on WMM on Aug 2.]

33. Lovergurl – The President is a Sex Offender EP / Lovergurl / May 19, 2017
[The Kansas City based 4-piece band, Lovergurl caught our ear with their synth pop sound and lyrics reflecting social and political messages with hip hop and punk elements. Keyboardist and vocalist, Stephanie Bankston was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a graduate of The University of Missouri. She moved abroad in her 20s, and lived in Seoul, Korea, where she played in a mostly female band called BaekMa (“White Horse”). Stephanie returned to Kansas City in the Fall 2015. Brook Worlledge, is 25 years old and is a Kansas City native. She is the band’s drummer and she sings and writes songs for the band. Brook is a defender of the proletariat. Brook’s influences range from Yhe B-52s, The Velvet Underground, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Lovergurl guitarist and vocalist, Heather Andrews is also 25. She was born and raised in Rhode Island, and moved to Kansas City in 2011 and fell in love with the city.] [Lovergurl joined us live on WMM on May 17.]

34. The Whiffs – Take A Whiff / High Dive Records / March 1, 2017
[Kansas City based power pop 4-piece band featuring members of Conquerors, Wet Ones, and Nubiles. Zach Campbell on bass & vocals, Rory Cameron on guitar & vocals, Nic Allred on guitar & vocals, Jake Cardwell on drums. Recorded and mixed by Vincent Lawhon at Element Studios, Kansas City, MO] [The Whiffs played The Riot Room, Thursday, July 21, with The Coathangers, and Residuals.]

35. St. Vincent – MASSEDUCTION / Loma Vista – Concord / October 13. 2017
[5th studio album from St. Vincent who is also known as Anne Erin “Annie” Clark who was born September 28, 1982. Masseduction has been described as the “culmination of years of writing, with songs crafted from voice memos, text messages, and snippets of melodies that came to Clark while traveling the globe.” Clark has stated that the album focuses on themes of power, sex, drugs, sadness, imperiled relationships and death. In a press release, she stated: “every record I make has an archetype. Strange Mercy was Housewives on Pills. St. Vincent was Near-Future Cult Leader. Masseduction is different, it’s pretty first person. You can’t fact-check it, but if you want to know about my life, listen to this record.” Annie Clark was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mother is a social worker turned administrator for a non-profit organization and her stepfather works in the tax business. Clark’s parents divorced when she was three years old, and she moved to Dallas, Texas when she was seven years old with her mother and two older sisters. Her father lives in Tulsa. Clark was raised Roman Catholic and Unitarian Universalist. From her parents’ blended families, Clark has eight siblings: four brothers and four sisters. She began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and, as a teenager, worked as a roadie for her uncle and aunt, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart, of the guitar-vocal jazz duo Tuck & Patti. After studying at Berklee College of Music for three years, she began her music career as a member of the Polyphonic Spree. Clark was also a member of Sufjan Stevens’s touring band before forming her own band in 2006. St. Vincent’s work has received consistent praise for its distinct musical style, which blends soft rock, experimental rock, electropop, and jazz influences. Her debut album was Marry Me (2007), followed by Actor (2009) and Strange Mercy (2011). She released a collaborative album with David Byrne in 2012 titled Love This Giant. Clark also contributed backing vocals for Swans on their 2014 album, To Be Kind. Her fourth solo album, self-titled St. Vincent, was released on February 25, 2014 and was named album of the year by The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly, NME, and Slant Magazine, as well as second best album of the year by Time magazine. The album won her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album, her first Grammy award. She was the first solo female performer in 20 years to win a Grammy in that category.][St. Vincent played The Uptown Theatre, Nov 19.]

36. Kevin Morby – City Music / Dead Oceans / June 16, 2017
[4th release from Kevin Robert Morby born April 2, 1988. Kevin learned to play guitar when he was 10. In his teens he formed the band Creepy Aliens. 17-year-old Morby dropped out of Blue Valley Northwest High School, got his GED, and moved from his native Kansas City to Brooklyn in the mid-2000s, supporting himself by working bike delivery and café jobs. He later joined the noise-folk group Woods on bass. While living in Brooklyn, he became close friends and roommates with Cassie Ramone of the punk trio Vivian Girls, and the two formed a side project together called The Babies, who released albums in 2011 and 2012. He began a solo career in 2013 releasing his debut album Harlem River with positive reviews. His 2nd album Still Life was released in 2014. His last album Singing Saw was one of our 116 Best Recordings of 2016] [Kevin Morby played The Madrid, September 14, opening for The Mountain Goats.]

37. Jametatone – Empty Bliss EP / J. Ashley Miller / March 21, 2017
[New EP from Jametatone, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone. J. Ashley Miller is the The 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow. He is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His genre-bending trans-modern work has been performed everywhere from YJ’s to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, to the MoMa PS1 in NYC. Ashley utilizes a diverse range of technologies, techniques, and collaborators to access obscure facets of the human emotional landscape. Jametatone opened all four shows at The Outburst KC, where Calvin Arsenia performed his 2017 Release Catastrophe Unplugged with guest musicians Beau Bledsoe, Fritz Hutchinson, Mark Southerland, and artist & vocalist Seth M. Jones. You can view more of Ashley’s work at http://www.jametatone.com.][Jametatone played The Ship, 1217 Union Avenue, in the West Bottoms, on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31, with Natural Man & The Gland Band, and Takin’ A Dive.]

38. Instant Karma – Trying To Find My Mind EP / Independent / July 22, 2017
[Instant Karma! is a 4 piece psych/soul rock band from Kansas City, MO. Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, Zach Harris on drums. All songs written by Instant Karma. Mixed by Zach Harris. Mastered at Eureka Mastering. Colby Bales and Cody Calhoun met in High School. They have been playing music together for 5 years. Thet became friends after forming the band. Instant Karma bass player Branden Moser has called the band, “a drug trip through the soul section of your local record store.” Instant Karma’s influences range from The Black Keys to Syl Johnson to the Wu Tang Clan. Instant Karma played an EP Release Show, Saturday, July 22, at Revolution Records. Instant Karma played Lawrence Field Day Fest, Thursday, July 13.] [Members of the band joined us live on WMM on July 12.]

39. Broken Arrows – Extended Play EP / Broken Arrows / March 18, 2017
[KC/Lawrence based 5-piece band, formed by Mike Penner on lead guitar & vocals; Bill Ryan on lead guitar, keyboards & vocals; John Chevalier on bass guitar & vocals; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; and Dave Storms on drums. Broken Arrows got together to play a Neil Young Tribute at Davey’s Uptown in 2015. They received such a positive reaction and enjoyed playing together so they decided to continue as a band. This song was written by Mike Penner who also sings lead vocals. Both John Chevalier and Dave Storms were previously in The Waspmen. Both have played extensively with many different bands in the Kansas City area. Mike Penner and Bill Ryan were previously in the KC power pop band, Honeywagen. Barry Lee had only played music very few times in public prior to the formation of this band. This is his first band. Mike Penner, Bill Ryan and John Chevalier are the principle songwriters for the band. They play mostly original material and some obscure covers.] [Broken Arrows premiered their debut EP, “Extended Play” with a Special Release show, March 18, at Records With Merritt.] [Broken Arrows joined us live on the WMM on March 15]

40. Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps / Dead Oceans / Sept. 22, 2017
[Phoebe Bridgers was born August 17, 1994, and is from Los Angeles, California. Bridgers released her major label debut 7″ on Ryan Adams record label, PAX AM. In early 2016, Bridgers supported Julien Baker on her 2016 East Coast tour. Bridgers is a graduate of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. In 2014 she was featured in a commercial for the Apple iPhone singing a cover of “Gigantic” by the Pixies. In June 2017, Phoebe Bridgers signed to Dead Oceans. The Alps was produced by Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska.]

41. David George – Here I Go Again EP / David George / April 14, 2017
[First of 3 seperate releases from David George in 2017. Produced by David George. Engineered & Mixed by Pat Tomek. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs. Photography & cover designed by Paul Andrews. David George on vocals, acoustic guitars; Erik Voeks on acoustic guitar, bass, vocals; Ben Byard on bass, mandolin, vocals; Mike Stover on pedal steel. Strings on “Live Love Lost” arranged by CJ Vanston & Adam Liebreich-Johnsen. Christine Broxterman on cello, violin. Ben Byard on violin; Joe Donley on upright bass. All songs written by David George. David released his 2nd EP, Won’t Let Go, on October 13. Recorded at Weights & Measures. Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower. David George on vocals & guitar, Mike Stover on pedal steel, David Luther, Erik Voeks, Ben Byard & Camry Ivory on harmony vocals. David George also released the single “Can’t Fight Love” on April 7, 2017 benefiting the ACLU. Recorded live at Weights & Measures Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower, March 2, 2017. Produced by David George. Written by David George, Jen Appell, & Nathan Corsi, w/ David George on guitar & vocals (Verse 1 & 5), David Luther on vocals (Verse 2), Jen Appell on guitar & vocals (verse 3), Nathan Corsi on guitar & vocals (Verse 4) , Erin McGrane on ukelele & vocals, Jeff Freling on guitar & vocals , Gordon gilges on dulcimer & vocals , Kristina Ning on upright bass & vocals , Matt Cathlina on upright bass & vocals, Nathan Showalter n piano & vocals, Daniel Starling on piano & vocals, Liam Summicht on cajón & vocals, Phil Jaggard on Vocals, Mark Manning on vocals, John Keck on guitar & vocals, Nate Nall on guitar & vocals, Jessica Paige on vocals, Dave Tanner on vocals. Also this year David George and Erik Voeks performed together or multiple shows as The Volker Brothers. More info: http://www.davidgeorgeband.com]

42. Run With It – How To Start A Fire EP / Run With It / March 24, 2017
[The Kansas City based band Run With it includes Miguel Caraballo on lead vocals & guitar, Ben Byard on bass & vocals, and Daniel Cole on drums, The power trio are known for their energetic live shows, leaving it all on the stage, and working their musical assets to make their audiences happy. The band stays very busy touring, and recording. How To Start A Fire, recorded with producer Josh Gleave. Miguel Carabello was born June 11, 1980 and is originally from Junction City, Kansas. Ben Byard grew up in El Dorado Kansas, and plays in David George and A Crooked Mile. Daniel Cole was born April 8, 1991 and graduated from Lee’s Summit West HS in 2009. Run With It have played all over the world including western Ukraine in Khitar. More information at: http://www.runwithitband.com][Run With It joined us live on WMM on March 22.]

43. Erica Joy – Erica Joy, Introduction EP / Independent / February 3, 2017
[26 year old Kansas City based singer songwriter was Born April 8, 1991, and grew up in Springfield Missouri and ent to Kickapoo High, graduating in 2009. Erica Joy graduated from UMKC in 2013. In 2015 her first single “Fun to Hold You” was released and remained in Homegrown Buzz’s rotation for over a year. EJ then released a full EP titled “Introduction” on February 3rd 2017 at Record Bar. For this recording Erica Joy on vocals, Britt Wild on lead guitar, Khitam Jabr on acoustic guitar,. Recorded and produced by Kyle Ward at Counterpoint Studio. This year Erica Joy also played Middle of The Map Fest, she was part of the HearQueer Issuue 001 launch, she has a new band, and is writing and recording new music with Colby Bales (of lead guitarits Instant Karma) Zach Harris (drummer of Instant Karma) and Branden Moser (bassist with Instant Karma) More information at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com,] [Erica Joy played an intimate theatre show, October 1st, at 7:00 PM, at Westport Coffeehouse Theatre debuting new songs, and playing new backing band – Colby Bales, Zach Harris, and Branden Moser. More at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com] [Erica Joy joined us live on WMM on September 13.]

44. The Sluts – Only One / The Sluts / May 25, 2017
[New 5 song EP from the Lawrence based band The Sluts formed by Ryan Wise & Kristoffer Dover in 2011.]

45. Beck – Colors / Fonograf – Capitol / October 13, 2017
[13th studio album from Beck Hansen, born July 8, 1970. Colors was recorded at co-executive producer Greg Kurstin’s LA studio, with Beck & Kurstin playing nearly every instrument themselves. Beck rose to fame in the early 1990s with his sonically experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide genre styles. Today, he musically encompasses folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alt rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 13 studio albums (3 of which were independently released), as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.] [At the height of his first hit single “Loser” fame, on April 13, 1994, Beck played Kansas City’s Rhumba Box 1012 McGee. The Rhumba Box lasted from the summer of 1993 to the spring of 1994. Prior to The Rhumba Box, 1012 Megee was home to Human Observation Lab. In 1987 a group of UMKC students called Stimulus and Response took over the defunct gay bath house, Club Bath, at 1012 McGee and opened The Human Observation Lab. At night, this downtown neighborhood was basically deserted except for the old bus station, a few dive bars, and street prostitution. The Lab’s proprietors rehabbed the building into a two story live/work space that evolved into a legendary live performance venue. Gorilla Theatre, Eyes Wide Open, Mongol Beach Party, The Cocktails, and DJ Ray Velasquez are just a few of the off-the-wall performers that evolved out of this underground venue.]

46. The New Pornographers – Whiteout Conditions / Concord Music / January 27, 2017
[Seventh album from Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Presented as a musical collective of singer-songwriters and musicians from multiple projects, the band’s seven studio albums have all received critical acclaim for their use of multiple vocalists and elements of power pop incorporated into their music. The album features: Carl Newman on vocals & guitar, Neko Case on vocals, John Collins –on bass, Blaine Thurier on keyboards & synthesizer, Todd Fancey on lead guitar, Kathryn Calder on vocals, keyboards & guitar, and Joe Seiders on drums & vocals. This is the first album not to feature either longtime drummer Kurt Dahle or singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.]

47. Curtis Harding – Face Your Fear / Anti / October 27, 2017
[Curtis Harding is an American soul singer, born in Saginaw, Michigan. Raised as a Mennonite, Harding’s family had no home until they settled in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was 14. Harding’s father, a mechanic, and his mother Dorothy, a gospel singer, took Harding and his five siblings around the United States in a van, stopping at churches. While his mother performed, Harding grew up playing music, though he originally wanted to play professional sports. In the early 2000s, Harding was part of the hip-hop group Proseed. He rapped on and co-wrote CeeLo Green’s 2002 album Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections along with several Proseed members. He toured with Green as a backing singer on the Smokin’ Grooves Tour in 2002 alongside Outkast, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots. Harding spent time working with groups in Atlanta before moving to Toronto for a year. A year later, he “came back to record with some friends in my living room.” From these sessions came his debut album, Soul Power, on the indie label Burger Records, released May 6, 2014. He spent two weeks recording the album. Randy Michael composed the music on the single “Keep on Shining”, and Jason Reynolds co-wrote “Heaven’s on the Other Side” with Harding.He formed the band Night Sun with two Black Lips members, guitarist Cole Alexander and drummer Joe Bradley. His second album, Face Your Fear, was recorded at Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Studio in New York City. “Wednesday Morning Atonement” is the opening single. Harding will appear in Sundance TV’s period drama series Hap and Leonard. He will portray two characters: L.C. Soothe and his grandson, Bobby Joe. Harding describes his genre as “slop ‘n’ soul”, a combination of gospel, punk, psych rock, and blues. He has said that his influences include Albert King, the Everly Brothers, and Ronnie Dyson.]

49. Jackie Shane – Jackie Shane: Any Other Way / Numero Group / October 20, 2017
[Jackie Shane was born May 15, 1940. She is an American former soul and rhythm and blues singer, who was most prominent in the local music scene of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 1960s. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee. In 1960, Shane moved to Montreal, Quebec, where saxophonist King Herbert Whitaker invited a young Shane along to watch the popular band Frank Motley and his Motley Crew at the Esquire Show Bar. Shane, who showed up in a bright red dress and her hair done up, sat down near the front. When Motley said, “Get that kid up here and let’s see what they can do,” pianist Curley Bridges invited her up onstage for the next set, where she performed songs by Ray Charles and Bobby “Blue” Bland. She was soon the band’s lead vocalist, and relocated to Toronto with them in late 1961. She sometimes returned to the United States to perform shows in Nashville, Boston, and Los Angeles. A fan mythology linked her to Little Richard, including claims that she had been Richard’s backing vocalist before moving to Canada or even that she was Richard’s cousin, although no verification of either claim has ever been found and no evidence exists that Shane ever made either claim herself. Music critic Carl Wilson has concluded that, while in reality Shane had deep and identifiable roots in the traditions of the Southern US Chitlin’ Circuit, the mythology emerged because that scene’s traditions were not known to Torontonians in the 1960s, and thus Little Richard was the only antecedent for Shane’s style that most of her local fan base could identify. Throughout her active musical career and for many years thereafter, Shane was written about by nearly all sources as a man who performed in drag. The few sources that actually sought out her own words on the matter of her own gender identification were more ambiguous, however; she identified herself as male in two early quotes to the Toronto Star, but more often appeared to simply dodge questions about her gender altogether. Her identity as a trans woman was not confirmed on the record by a media outlet until 2017. CBC Radio’s Inside the Music aired a documentary feature, “I Got Mine: The Story of Jackie Shane”, in 2010. At the time, nobody involved in the documentary had been able to determine whether Shane was still living; she was subsequently found still alive in Nashville.Footage of Shane in performance also appeared in Bruce McDonald’s 2011 documentary television series Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories. Jackie Shane Live was reissued in 2011 on Vintage Music as Live at the Sapphire Tavern, although the reissue was labelled as being from 1963 (the date of the original live performance) instead of 1967 (the release date of the album). The reissue also included Shane’s performances from Honkin’ at Midnight as bonus tracks. A compilation album of the studio singles and rarities, Soul Singles Classics, was released the same year. In 2015, the Polaris Music Prize committee shortlisted Jackie Shane Live as one of the nominees for the 1960s-1970s component of its inaugural Heritage Award to honor classic Canadian albums. It was shortlisted for the prize again in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, a group of Toronto writers published the essay anthology Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer, a history of LGBT culture in Toronto; in addition to taking its title from Shane’s 1962 single, the book includes an essay devoted specifically to Shane. In the summer of 2017, the reissue label Numero Group announced that they would be releasing a double-LP/CD compilation of Shane’s music, Any Other Way, on October 20, 2017. The album marks the first time since her final single in 1969 that Shane has been directly involved in the production and release of a reissue of her music.]

50. Hurray For The Riff Raff – The Navigator / ATO Records / March 10, 2017
[Hurray for the Riff Raff is an American folk-blues and Americana band from New Orleans, Louisiana formed by lead singer and songwriter Alynda Segarra. Segarra was raised by her aunt Nereida in the Bronx where she developed an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown. She is of Puerto Rican descent. Her mother was former New York City Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra. Segarra became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when she was young. She left her home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains. During this time, around 2007, Segarra became a part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra, a band that was documented in a photo essay by Time Magazine in 2007. After two self-released albums, 2008’s It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You and 2010’s Young Blood Blues, Hurray for the Riff Raff released a self-titled CD composed of Segarra’s favorite songs from those records on Loose Music in Europe on March 21, 2011. Tracks from the band’s debut release received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. In February 2011, the band were featured in an article in The Times, based around the HBO TV series, Treme, with their track “Daniella” being listed in their selection of New Orleans’ essential songs. In May 2012, Hurray for the Riff Raff released Look Out Mama on their own label, Born to Win Records. Loose Music released Look Out Mama in Europe on August 20, 2012. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at The Bomb Shelter Studios and produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes).In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut, Small Town Heroes. The record features original songs written or co-written by Segarra, and features fiddler Yosi Perlstein, keyboard player Casey McAllister, and two members of The Deslondes: Sam Doores on guitar and Dan Cutler on bass.]

51. Japanese Breakfast – Soft Sounds from Another Planet / Dead Oceans / July 14, 2017
[Japanese Breakfast is the solo musical project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. Under the alias, Zauner has released two studio albums: Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017). Prior to her solo project, Michelle Zauner fronted Post Post, an indie pop band with students from Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, then started the Philadelphian emo band Little Big League. Zauner fronted the band between 2011 and 2014, before returning to her hometown of Eugene, Oregon in 2013. Zauner made the trek back home in the wake of her mother being diagnosed with cancer.While at home, tending her family in Oregon, Zauner began recording solo music. Zauner described the project as having much more to say following Tropical Jinx, the 2014 studio album by Little Big League. Originally, Zauner had begun to record early samples of music as a self-meditative and “instant-gratification” feeling.[3] Two years later, the solo project itself eventually became the work of Psychopomp the debut album by Japanese Breakfast. The name of the band, according to Zauner is a juxtaposition of Asian exoticism and American culture. Despite the name, Zauner is not of Japanese descent, but Korean descent.Zauner described the debut album as quite “dark and heavy-handed”, although she had a desire to make the music, urgent and “sonically upbeat.” On June 23, 2016, the Japanese Breakfast project was signed to the Dead Oceans label.]

52. Nature Boys – 3LP / Mandible Records / April 28, 2017
[Danny Fischer on guitar & vocals, Suzanne Hogan on bass & vocals, Evan Malone on drums. Nature Boys started playing together in Kansas City, MO in September of 2009. They had their first show at Dave’s Stagecoach Inn and then left for their first tour in January of 2010. They’ve released all three of their abums and one single on vinyl. Nature Boys spend most of their time on the road,. The band played 31 shows throughout Europe in June and July of 2017.]

53. Erin Keller – Distracted / Erin Keller / May 9, 2017
[KC based vocalist Erin Keller is originally from Waukee, Iowa. She was born in August, in 1980. Erin has been singing on a professional level for 25 years. Erin sang with the internationally competitive Des Moines Children’s Choir for 5 years, and 3 years in All-State choir in high school, which helped her earn a voice performance degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, in 2002. Erin peforms with the Grammy-Award winning Kansas City Chorale. Erin has also worked as a featured soloist with Owen Cox Dance Ensemble, New Ear, KC jazz musicians, the big band at University of Colorado, a West African Highlife Ensemble, the Balkan brass band Gora Gora Orkestar. Erin also has experience writing her own music, singing in rock, folk, and free improv settings and she more recently earned a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In Colorado she worked for two years in public schools teaching music and moved back to KC to continue her career as musician and educator. In April Erin released her new album, “Distracted,” and has been playing live shows while also being upfront and honest about her recent cancer diagnosis where she has received multiple rounds of chemo treatments. Erin Keller wrote the song “Distracted” and recorded her songs with Chad Meise. Immediatedly after the album was released Erin diagnosed with liver cancer and began treatments, while also going through a divorce, and moving to a new home. Throughour her chemo treatments Erin continued performing and producing shows, keeping an incredible sense of humor and strenght through such a difficult period. She has successfully completed multiple round of chemo and the cancer is gone form her body, although she is currently recovering in the hospital from compliations for surgery. We wish her well and send her all our love.] [Erin joined us live on the show on August 16.]

55. Diet Cig – Swear I’m Good At This / Father Daughter Records / April 7, 2017
[Pop-punk duo Alex Luciano on vocals & guitar, Noah Bowman on drums met at a house show in New Paltz, New York, in the summer of 2014. Bowman’s old band, Earl Boykins, was playing at the house show, where Luciano needed a cigarette lighter. She interrupted the band’s set to ask Bowman for one, but he gave her a bottle of wine instead. Afterwards, Luciano got his number and told him she’d make a music video for him. The next day, Bowman tattooed a daisy on Luciano’s foot and by August 2014, the pair were making music together. They officially named their act Diet Cig in September 2014. Luciano and Bowman confirmed. Swear I’m Good At This was produced, engineered and mixed by Christopher Daly at Salvation Recording Co. in New Paltz, NY with additional recording at Atomic Sound in New York City, and additional engineering by Travis DeJong and Dakota Bowman. It was mastered by Jamal Ruhe at West West Side.]

56. Khrystal. – Quarter Century Living / Khrystal. / September 1, 2017
[Khrystal’s debut EP. Written and performed by Khrystal. Produced by Katheryne Johnson. Khrystal Coppage is Editor-in-Chief of Khorage Magazine. She served as Production Manager at UMKC University News from 2015 to 2016. She graduated from UMKC in 2016 where she studied Family Studies. She graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2013. She is a graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, in KCK. http://mixtapemonkey.com/2073/khrystal-q-u-a-r-t-e-r-c-e-n-t-u-r-y-l-i-v-i-n-g. Late this year, Khrystal also released the three song EP, The Glow Up produced by Duncan Burnett on Novembr 7, 2017. [Khrystal. played Plus Vibes Only w/ Duncan Burnett x Riot at Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 PM, at recordBar, 1520 Grand, with Sauce, Mae C., Kartez Marcel, with sounds by Leonard Destroy.]

57. The National – Sleep Well Beast / 4AD / September 8, 2017
[Sleep Well Beast is the 7th studio album by The National, an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. Currently based in Brooklyn, the band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Founded by Berninger, Aaron Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Dessner and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003). Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. The band’s fourth and fifth studio albums, Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), increased their exposure significantly. In 2013, the band released its sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.]

58. Sheer Mag – Need To Feel Your Love / WILSUN RC / July 14, 2017
[Sheer Mag is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2014. Members include: Tina Halladay, Kyle Seely, Hart Seely, Matt Palmer, Ian Dykstra With a combination of 1970s rock and punk ethos, the band has continued to gather attention and has released three 7-inch EPs as of March 2016. In January 2015, Rolling Stone featured the band as one of “10 New Artists You Need To Know”, describing them as “a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of Seventies classic rock.”Four of five band members attended the State University of New York at Purchase. In 2016, the band was part of the Coachella 2016 line-up and performed on Late Night with Seth Myers. On May 10, 2017, Sheer Mag released “Need To Feel Your Love,” the first track off their first full-length record, Need To Feel Your Love.] [Sheer Mag played The Bottleneck, in Lawrence, KS, with Laffing Gas, The Whiffs, and Nancy Boys]

59. Pink Royal – Do You Mind EP / Pink Royal / September 12, 2017
[Experimental groove pop, 5-piece band based in Lawrence, Kansas with Steven LaCour on guitar & vocals, Josh Dorrell on guitar & vocals, Alex Hartmann on drums, Nick Carswell on bass & vocals, Vik Govindarajan on Keyboards & vocals. Music and Lyrics by Pink Royal (except Tracks 3 & 6 by Pink Royal and Dylan Guthrie.) Recorded and produced by Jim Barnes. Mastered by Dalton Brand at WaveBurner Recording.]

60. Soul Revival – Back to Love EP / Soul Revival / June 2, 2017
[Debut EP from R & B – Soul duo, Soul Revival, KCK based producer, and musician and keyboard player, Desmond Mason is originally from Los Angeles. He went to Southeast High school and studied History and Higher Education at UMKC. Desmond has worked at Park University, and the American Jazz Museum. Desmond is a versatile performer and composer, who describes his music as “firmly rooted in KC Kazz, R & B, gospel, and hip-hop music and strives to be something that the audience can feel in their spirit.” Derick Cunigan is a singer, songwriter who is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He studied broadcasting at Northwest Missouri State University. He has worked for KMBC, Steel City Media and KBEQ, KFKF, KCTV5. More info at http://www.soulrevivalmusic.com]

61. Hembree – Had It All EP / Ribbon Music / Expected November 3. 2017
[Formed in November of 2015, band members include: Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, and Eric Davis. “Had It All” the single was released July 26, 2017. Engineered by: Isaac Flynn and Hembree. Produced by: Eric Hillman and Hembree. Mixed by: Joe Visciano. Mastered by: TW Walsh. Hemmer are currently on a multiple city North American tour opening for JR JR, the band formally known as Dale Earnhart Jr. JR JR is Detroit-area natives: Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott.]

62. Black Stacey – Electric Chariot / Sharaden Staten / June 2 2017
[Black Stacey is Sharaden Staten, a Missouri native, whose music brings the spirit of “Electric Church” to the Midwest. Sharaden, a 25-year-old, having grown up in the back woods of central Missouri, and couch surfed his way into the KC metro, pairs subtle notes of R&B, funk, soul, and rock; dramatically blending it into a raw eclectic mix. In 2015 Sharaden began writing, recording and producing Black Stacey’s debut, “Electric Chariot”. A project that has given him a solid foundation in the KC music scene, gaining him spots on local radio and the opportunity to work with producer Joel Nanos (Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear, Radkey, Sly/Robbie & the Taxi Gang). More infor at http://www.blackstacey.com.]

64. The MGDs – Somos Como Somos EP / The MGDs / November 4, 2017
[From the band’s new EP, their 3rd studio release. Matt Davis on drums, percussion & vocals, Greg Bush on bass, Damon Parker on keyboards & vocals, Scott “Snoof” Middleton on guitar, Rudy Vasquez on saxophones, and Eric Martens on trumpet. This Kansas City based 6-piece band that mixes piano and brass with a dynamic rhythm section that adds a unique flavor to the iconic Kansas City music culture, blending of funk and blues with soulful stylings. In what started as a 3-piece between longtime friends in 2008, the MGDs have evolved into a potent powerhouse, high-energy ensemble with regular monthly appearances at the Phoenix, and appearances at the Sunset Music Fest, the City Market Crawfish Fest, the 6th annual Phoenix Fest, Crossroads Music Fest, Middle of The Map Fest, Boulevardia, The Plaza Art Fair, Kauffman Stadium before two Kansas City Royals games. In 2016 the band released their 2nd studio LP, “Wake Up”.] [The MGDs played an EP Release show, Saturday, November 4, at 9:00 pm, at The Black Dolphin.]

66. Laura Marling – Semper Femina / More Alarming Records / March 10, 2017
[6th studio album from Laura Beatrice Marling was born February 1, 1990, from Eversley, Hampshire. Her debut album Alas, I Cannot Swim, her second album I Speak Because I Can, and her fourth album Once I Was An Eagle were all nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2008, 2010, and 2013, respectively. She won the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2011 Brit Awards, and was nominated for the same award at the 2012 and 2014 Brit Awards. The youngest of three daughters, Marling learned guitar at an early age. Her father, Sir Charles William Somerset Marling, the 5th Marling Baronet, ran a recording studio, introduced her to folk music and shaped her musical taste, an experience that Marling later described as, “a bit of a blessing and a bit of a curse….[because] I couldn’t slot myself into the age-appropriate genre”. Marling received a scholarship to attend Leighton Park School, a private Quaker school in Reading, Berkshire. During her secondary school years she felt uneasy around other people and was afraid of death. Marling dated Noah and the Whale singer/guitarist Charlie Fink briefly before the pair separated in 2008. She also dated Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons until late 2010. She moved to Silver Lake in Los Angeles, California in 2013, before relocating back to London in December 2014. In September 2013, Marling explained: “I am a solitary person but I love people, I’m not a misanthrope. I like the idea of speaking only when it’s strictly necessary. The closest I ever feel to people is in shared experience. I’m still exploring that, I don’t know where it’s going to lead me.]

67. Pageant Boys – Shadowboxing EP / The Record Machine / May 19, 2017
[On what was originally slated to be a short trip to Istanbul, Alex Sheppard started recording music with his girlfriend’s laptop and a bluetooth headphone mic. None of Sheppard’s previous musical efforts incorporated electronics in a major way; “It was born of necessity,” says Sheppard. The songs on his new EP, Shadowboxing, came out of those original sessions. The songs are a sensual and almost effervescent approach that combine R&B elements with electronic and processed instrumentation. While in Istanbul, Sheppard established a routine in collaborating with a close friend and poet. He said they developed a fairly specific daily routine for working on music, with the intent of finishing songs, regardless of their quality. “I would wake up at 8 in the morning and start the song and get the chord structure. And then at 10, he would wake up and I would show him what I had. I’d make breakfast, and then I’d show him the melody I wanted for the vocal line. He’d go down and start writing the lyrics, we’d eat breakfast, and he’d have the lyrics written after we got done with breakfast. At 1, I’d start recording the vocals. It was a good schedule.” Sheppard has been writing and recording for the last decade even though he is just in 20’s. Before Sheppard started performing and recording as Pageant Boys he released several albums as Alexandre. Shadowboxing is the maturation of Sheppard’s artistic vision and introduction to a larger audience.] [Pageant Boys played Crossroads Music Fest, Sat, Sept. 9 .]

68. Las Cafeteras – Tastes Like L.A. / Las Cafeteas / April 14, 2017
[Chicano band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music fuses spoken word, folk music, with traditional Son Jarocho, Afro-Mexican music and zapateado dancing. The band started out as students of the Eastside Café, a community space in El Sereno, LA, where they took Son Jarocho classes. Influenced by music from Veracruz, Mexico and eager to teach others about it, they started formally playing in 2005. Since forming, they have shared the stage with artists such as, Caifanes, Lila Downs, Juanes, Ozomatli, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Their namesake derives from the organization where they took classes. To honor women, they feminized their group name by naming themselves Las Cafeteras, rather than Los Cafeteros. Las Cafeteras’ songs have themes and references that range from the Civil Rights Movement, United Farm Workers, DREAM Act, immigration reform to female homicides in Ciudad Juárez. Their song, “La Bamba Rebelde”, a remake of The traditional Mexican song from the state of Veracruz “La Bamba”, denotes their Chicano pride. They say that they construct their music as a tool for creating positive change and inspiring others to do so. Band Members include: Daniel French on vocals, jarana, MC; David Flores on requinto jarocho; Denise Carlos on vocals, jarana, zapateado, glockenspiel; Jose Cano on cajón, Native American flute, harmonica; Hector Flores on vocals, zapateado; Leah Gallegos on vocals, quijada, zapateado.] [Las Cafeteras played Folk Alliance International 2017 Conference.]

70. Pieta Brown – Postcards / Lustre Records / March 10, 2017
[Postcards features a number of Brown’s musical friends, including Calexico, Bon Iver, Mark Knopfler and the Pines. She compiled the album by writing simple acoustic demos of what would become the album’s songs, sending them to the musicians that make up Postcards‘ roster of guests, and having those artists finish the tracks. Brown and her collaborators never worked in the same room, which lent the album its distance-implying title. Released on Brown’s new, in her words, “underground label” Lustre Records. Pieta Brown was born in 1973 in Iowa City, Iowa. Her early upbringing was in Iowa. There, Brown was exposed to traditional and rural folk music through her father, singer songwriter Greg Brown. Brown spent her childhood living in 17 different residences between Iowa and Alabama. While living with her mother in Alabama, Brown began writing poetry and composing instrumental songs on piano. As a musician and singer-songwriter she has released five albums and four EPs. Collaborator Bo Ramsey produced her 2002 debut record, Pieta Brown and co-produced her 2005 album In the Cool, which was named one of the year’s best by Amazon. Her next album Remember The Sun was released in 2007 and was cited as one of the year’s best in a The Wall Street Journal article. After the release of her next album, One and All, Brown joined Mark Knopfler’s North American tour, had a string of performance dates with John Prine, participated in a full orchestral show with Brandi Carlile, and embarked on her own performance tour in Australia. Brown’s 2009 EP, Shimmer was produced by Don Was after hearing her on his car radio in a live solo performance. In addition to Mark Knopfler, John Prine and Brandi Carlile, Brown has shared stages with JJ Cale, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Ani DiFranco, Calexico, Neko Case, Mason Jennings, Shawn Mullins, Carrie Rodriguez and Jim Lauderdale. She has performed at festivals throughout North America including Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Edmonton Folk Music Festival and more. Her national radio credits include performances on eTown and Mountain Stage. Brown is married to guitarist and producer, Bo Ramsey.]

71. The Good Hearts – A Beginner’s Guide to The Good Hearts / TGHs / May 21, 2017
[The Good Hearts are a 4-piece soulful folk-pop group with an emphasis on strings and warming hearts. Their unique brand of folk music is led by singer songwriter, Nicole Cain with powerful vocals & acoustic guitar, Shannon O’Shea on violin & background vocals, Anna Cook on cello & background vocals, and Aaron Derington on percussion. This Kansas City based group are described as “folk pop with touches of old country and soul thrown in.” The Good Hearts have played the Plaza Art Fair, The Folk Music Festival, and Boulevardia. The Good Hearts are currently working on their new debut album full length with Kristie Stremel serving as producer. More info at: http://www.thegoodheartsmusic.bandcamp.com] [The Good Hearts played the Wednesday MidDay Medley 90.1 KKFI Day Party at Middle of The Map Fest, May 6.]

72. The Safes – Tasty Waves / Hidden Volume Records / September 8, 2017
[The Safes are Frankie O’Malley on vocals, guitars, drums, piano, Wurlitzer, vibes, bells; Patrick O’Malley on vocals, guitars; Dex Fontaine on drums; Curt Schmelz on bass. The record includes special guest musicians: Siobhan Hunter on violins, Dominique DiValerio on french horn, and Ben Levin-O’Leary on trumpet. Produced, Recorded, Mixed by Patrick O’Malley. Recorded, Mixed by Brian Deck. Mixed by Frankie O’Malley. Recorded at IV Lab and StudiO’Malley. Mixed at StudiO’Malley and at Brian Deck’s home studio
Mastered by Josh Bonati at Bonati Mastering. Assistant Engineer at IV Lab – Shane Hendrickson. Photograph: Andrew Ballantyne. All songs written by Frankie O’Malley, except “Streets and Sanitation”: lyrics written by Frankie and music written by Patrick & Frankie. http://www.thesafes.com.] [The Safes played Crossroads Music Festival, September 9 at 10:00 at The Brick on the Do816 Stage.]

73. Joon Moon – Moonshine Corner / Kwaiden Records / September 29, 2017
[First full length album from band formed in 2014 in Montmartre area of Paris. This follows the June 2017 release of their EP Tiger, their April 2016 EP, Call Me, and their October 2015 EP Chess. Joon Moon is the meeting of House producer Julien Decoret, drummer Raphael Chassin and American expat and singer/song writer extraordinaire Krystle Warren. After ten years of touring the world playing double bass with Marc Collin’s Nouvelle Vague ensemble, alongside excursions into house music on the Yellow Productions Art of Disco compilations, not to mention co-producing Florent Marchet’s Bamby Galaxy album, it was time for songwriter/producer/renaissance man Julien Decoret to dedicate his heart and soul to a new challenge. With Raphaël Chassin, (Hugh Coltman, Vanessa Paradis, Pauline Croze) on drums, helping out with the production and arrangements, and Sébastien Trouvé as sound engineer, Decoret set out on his retromodern Joon Moon mission, laying out the contours of a world where trip-hop, jazz, soul and electronic music live side by side, sharing their joys and sorrows. The only missing element was that one last bit of magic, a voice that could take the project to ever-loftier heights. Enter Krystle Warren. She had worked with Rufus Wainwright, and Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside, and had made forays into house music herself by providing vocals to two cuts off Hercules and Love Affair’s, The Feast of the Broken Heart. That’s not even mentioning her own band, Krystle Warren and The Faculty – and its three albums – which display her impressive grasp of soul music, folk, blues…With Tiger, the band’s social concerns are brought to the forefront. A timely piece from a Franco-American band about the need to question authority and the power structure of society. Tiger sees its tension build up like an onimous populist, and turns into defiance. Art and love in a movement towards emancipation.]

74. Mavis Staples – If All I Was Was Black / Anti / November 17, 2017
[16th studio solo album from gospel R&B singer, actress and civil rights activist, born in Chicago, Illinois on July 10, 1939. She has recorded and performed with her family’s band The Staple Singers. She began her career with her family group in 1950. Initially singing locally at churches, appearing on a weekly radio show, the Staples scored a hit in 1956 with “Uncloudy Day” for the Vee-Jay label. When Mavis graduated from what is now Paul Robeson High School in 1957, The Staple Singers took their music on the road. Led by family patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples on guitar and including the voices of Mavis and her siblings Cleotha, Yvonne, and Purvis, the Staples were called “God’s Greatest Hitmakers.” With Mavis’ voice and Pops’ songs, singing, and guitar playing, the Staples evolved from enormously popular gospel singers (with recordings on United and Riverside as well as Vee-Jay) to become the most spectacular and influential spirituality-based group in America. By the mid-1960s The Staple Singers, inspired by Pops’ close friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., became the spiritual and musical voices of the civil rights movement. They covered contemporary pop hits with positive messages, including Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” and a version of Stephen Stills’ “For What It’s Worth”. Livin’ on a High Note was produced by M. Ward the album features songs written specifically for Staples by Nick Cave, Justin Vernon, tUnE-yArds, Neko Case, Aloe Blacc, and others. Mavis!, the first feature documentary about Staples and the Staple Singers, directed by Jessica Edwards, had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2015. Mavis! was screened in theaters and on HBO in February 2016. Staples was briefly married to Spencer Leak in 1964; they divorced when Staples would not end her music career to stay home. She has no children. In the 2015 documentary Mavis! she reveals that Bob Dylan once proposed to her, and she turned him down. The album was written and produced by Jeff Tweedy. Staples said the album “brings us all together as a people. That’s what I hope to do. You can’t stop me. You can’t break me. I’m too loving. These songs are going to change the world.” Tweedy described the message of the album: “I’ve always thought of art as a political statement in and of itself-that it was enough to be on the side of creation and not destruction. But there is something that feels complicit at this moment in time about not facing what is happening in this country head on.]

75. Sky Smeed – Lunker Bass / Sky Smeed / February 1, 2017
[Sky Smeed was born and raised outside of Chanute, Kansas, in an old, one-room schoolhouse his parents bought and turned into a home in the early 1970s. Last year, he sold the country home he built by hand and migrated to Lawrence, Kansas, a place that has provided a non-stop supply of creativity, community and culture, and began settling in to an old fixer-upper on the north side of the Kaw River. To date, Smeed has self-released five full-length albums: Flying High (2002), The Front Steps (2004), Mill River (2006), Sky Smeed (2012) and Drive All Night (2015). His sixth album, Lunker Bass (released February 1, 2017), was recorded and produced at The Ninth Ward Pickin’ Parlor in Lawrence by none other than award-winning folk duo Truckstop Honeymoon (Mike & Katie West).]

76. Adult Mom – Soft Spots / Tiny Engines / May 19, 2017
[Adult Mom began as the solo project of Stephanie Knipe in a Purchase College dorm room in 2012. Honesty and intimacy form as Knipe writes clever pop songs that offer a glimpse into the journey of a gender-weird queer navigating through heartache, trauma and subsequent growth. Soft Spots, the project’s sophomore LP, is an exploration into the physical and emotional acts of opening up, the vulnerability that produces love, and then ache. Knipe shares with us their process of learning how to cradle and understand their own softness without finality, a story without an end.]

77. Nick Siegel – Awake from The Golden State / Nick Siegel / August 25, 2017
[2nd single from the debut EP from Nick Siegel who writes: “I write aggressive piano rock music. I strike the 88 keys because one of them must be the key to your heart (oh the charm!). I grew up playing music in Chicago and moved to Kansas City in 2010 when I joined The Casket Lottery. Now venturing on my own, I’m excited to release a new record that will knock your clothes off. Book me, like me, come out and see me and I’ll introduce you to a fine mix of fast fingers, great hair and awkward banter. I’m Nick Siegel. I’m the piano rock you need in your life.”]

78. The Como Mamas – Move Upstairs / Daptone Records / May 19, 2017
[2nd full length album from one of the The newer addition to the Daptone Family. tThe Como Mamas are three lifelong Gospel singers from the small town of Como Mississippi. On their debut album, the critically acclaimed album ‘Get an Understanding’ from 2013, there are only three instruments – The powerful, raspy voice of Ester Mae Smith, the deep soothing voice of Angela Taylor, and the energetic, spirited vocals of Della Daniels. The harmonies they create are so powerful, musical accompaniment is not missed. In December of 2015, The Como Mamas took their first trip from their home in Como, Mississippi up to Harlem, New York to crush the Apollo Theater as part of the Daptone Super Soul Revue. Taking full advantage of their presence in town, the Daptone crew brought Ester Mae Wilbourn, Della Daniels and Angelia Taylor into the House of Soul the week after the show to join forces for the first time with the musicians and studio that has defined their label’s sound. Jimmy Hill, Thomas Brenneck, Homer Steinweiss, and Bosco Mann, all stalwarts of the Daptone stable, came together as “The Glorifiers Band,” to put down a churning musical foundation for these amazing singers. The results are some of the heaviest tracks that Daptone has cut to date.]

79. Dirty Projectors – Dirty Projectors / Domino Recording Co. / February 21, 2017
[2nd single from the 8th album, of the band and the follow up to Swing Lo Magellan, from 2012. Dirty Projectors are an American musical group, consisting of David Longstreth on vocals & guitar, Amber Coffman on vocals & guitar, Haley Dekle on vocals, Nat Baldwin on bass, Olga Bell on vocals & keyboards, and Michael Johnson on drums.]

80. Mount Eerie – A Crow Looked At Me / P.W. Elverum & Sun / March 24, 2017
[8th studio album from Mount Eerie, the musical project of Anacortes, Washington-based songwriter and producer Phil Elverum. Elverum (formerly of The Microphones) is the principal member of the band, but has collaborated with many other musicians on his records and in live performances. Most of Mount Eerie’s releases have been issued on Elverum’s label P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd., and feature inventive and highly detailed packaging with his own artwork. Elverum married Canadian artist and musician Geneviève Gosselin in 2003 shortly after meeting her. The two dated long-distance briefly before Geneviève moved to Washington to live with Phil. She recorded under the names Woelv and Ô Paon. Besides occasionally singing on each other’s records and playing in one another’s backing bands live, the couple did not collaborate artistically. The two did not want either of their artistic outputs to interfere with the other’s so they kept relatively quiet about their marriage. Occasionally one would mention that he or she was married, but not say who they were married to. In 2015, Geneviève was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer following the birth of the couple’s first child. After running out of funds to pay for Geneviève’s cancer treatments the two turned to the world and asked for their support through way of a GoFundMe page; an unexpected decision from the usually reclusive couple. On July 10, 2016, Geneviève died in the company of her husband and parents. The album’s release comes in wake of the passing of Elverum’s wife, Geneviève Castrée. On January 5, 2017, Elverum announced that he will “re-enter the world,” go on tour, and release a new album. The first single from A Crow Looked at Me, “Real Death”, was released on P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd.’s SoundCloud page on January 18, 2017, to widespread acclaim, netting the “Best New Track” distinction from Pitchfork. Paste wrote that in “Real Death”, “[t]he music gives Elverum all the room he needs to not so much sing, but document.”]

82. The Weather Station – The Weather Station / Paradise of Bachelors / October 6, 2017
[4th full length release from The Weather Station, a Canadian band, based in Toronto, fronted by Tamara Lindeman, formed in 2006. Band members have changed over the years, but now includes Lindeman, with Ben Whiteley on bass, Adrian Cook on pedal steel, and Ian Kehoe on drums.]

83. Wick & The Tricks – Not Enough 7″ Vinyl EP / Black Site / October 14, 2017
[4-piece band with Wick Trick on vocals & sleaze, Chris Stallion on guitar, Jane Asylum on bass & vocals, and JoJo Tornado on drums. The new EP was recorded and mixed by Justin Mantooth at Westend Recording Studios.] [Wick & the Tricks played a Record Release Show, Saturday, October 14, at 8:00 pm at Davey’s Uptown Rambler’s Club, 3402 Main Street, KCMO, with Red Kate, The Quivers, and The Midnight Devils.]

85. Salar Rajabnik – Black & White World / Salar Rajabnik / June 9, 2017
[Produced By: Salar Rajabnik. Engineered By: David Wright at Cherrybox Studios & RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. Mixed By: David Wright. Mastered By: Joshua Stuebe . Art Direction & Design: Kristøpher Martin of Arcane Path. Photography: Samon Rajabnik. Vocals, Electric, Acoustic, Baritone & 12 String Guitars, Piano, Drums & Percussion: Salar Rajabnik. Bass Guitar: Ben Garner. Keyboards, Organ, Piano & Percussion: Johnny Gentile. Fender Rhodes on “I Don’t Want To Wake Up”: Warren Pash. Additional Background Vocals: Leah Korbin. Special thanks to Noam Chomsky for graciously allowing use of his words in “Black & White World.” Black & White World is dedicated to those with the courage to speak truth to power. All Songs Written & Arranged By: Salar Rajabnik / BMI / 2017. Salar Rajabnik is a product of time spent in lots of seemingly contrasting places. Born in the Atlanta area, he was immersed in the world of southern American roots music. The strong Persian cultural influence of his father, an Iranian immigrant, was just as evident at a young age. This was strengthened by time ispent living in Iran. From the beginning this unexpected amalgamation of cultures began to create the foundation that would define him as a musician and person. A move to Kansas City at the age of 12 prompted Salar to pick up his first instrument, the bass guitar. Between the clubs, streets, festivals, churches, basements, bars, arenas, schools, & studios, playing bass, drums, or guitar, he took every opportunity to play that he could. While his influences seem conflicting on the surface level the underlying and unifying principles and themes are strong. Whether he was dancing to Persian music with his family in Iran, learning Motown basslines in his room while his friends listened to boy bands, or jamming in the historic 18th & Vine district with jazz veterans till sunrise, for Salar it’s always been about playing with heart, soul, and honesty. Salar has set out to venerate those who have and continue to respect the gift of music and it’s important role in life, regardless of any classification or style. After years of playing in bands and as a live & studio musician Salar relocated to Nashville, Tennessee & formed a backing band in 2014 & released a debut EP, both dubbed “Moon Age”. Leaving Nashville as a homebase & the Moon Age moniker behind, Salar recently relocated back to Kansas City to release his full length album.]

86. This Is the Kit – Moonshine Freeze / Rough Trade / July 7, 2017
[4th album from This Is the Kit, the alias of British musician Kate Stables, who is based in Bristol and Paris. This is The Kit formed in 2003. This Is the Kit perform regularly in various configurations from duo to quintet. The core members are Stables on vocals, guitar and banjo, and Jesse D Vernon on violin, guitar, bass and percussion. However, Stables is the only constant, and they are often joined onstage by The Liftmen, Rozi Plain, and other musicians of their acquaintance throughout the UK and Europe.]

87. The Souljazz Orchestra – Under Burning Skies / Strut Records / September 22, 2017
[8th album from Canadian six member band based in Ottawa. Their music is a fusion of soul, jazz, funk, Afrobeat and Latin styles. Members include: Pierre Chrétien on electric piano, clavinet, organ, guitar, bass, percussion, vocals; Marielle Rivard on percussion, vocals; Steve Patterson on tenor sax, percussion, vocals; Ray Murray on baritone sax, percussion, vocals; Zakari Frantz on alto sax, flute, percussion, vocals; Philippe Lafrenière on drums, percussion, vocals. The band signed to London-based Strut Records, a UK record label that focuses on dance music and afrobeat. Other musicians signed to Strut include “Ethio-Jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke, Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey and Ghanaian highlife singer Ebo Taylor.” ]

89. The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding / Atlantic / August 25, 2017
[The 4th studio album from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, band formed in 2005. The band consists of Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Jon Natchez (saxophone, keyboards) and Anthony LaMarca (guitar). Founded by close collaborators Granduciel and Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs released their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008. Vile departed shortly after its release to focus on his solo career. The band’s second studio album Slave Ambient was released in 2011 to favorable reviews and extensive touring. Written and recorded following extensive touring and a period of loneliness and depression for primary songwriter Granduciel, the band’s third album, Lost in the Dream, was released in 2014 to widespread critical acclaim and increased exposure. Previous collaborator Charlie Hall joined the band as its full-time drummer during the recording process, with saxophonist Jon Natchez and additional guitarist Anthony LaMarca accompanying the band for its world tour.]

90. Deerhoof – Mountain Moves / Joyful Noise / September 8, 2017
[Pitchfork went so far as to label Deerhoof as “the best band in the world.” From their humble beginnings as an obscure San Francisco noise act, they’ve become one of indie music’s most influential bands with their ecstatic and unruly take on pop. Formed in San Francisco in 1994. Deerhoof currently consists of founding drummer Greg Saunier, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez. Initially performing improvised noise punk, Deerhoof became widely renowned and influential in the 2000s through prodigious and self-produced creative output combining “noise, sugary [pop] melodies, and an experimental spirit into utterly distinctive music”. They have released 14 studio albums since 1997. Their live shows are characterized by minimal gear, maximal volume, and surrealist banter.][Deerhoof played Outer Reaches Fest, at recordBar, Friday, September 29.]

91. Sauce – Summer Sauce / Sauce / July 28, 2017
[Kansas City native Hip-Hop artist Sauce is also known as Royce Handy. “Summer Sauce” is his 3rd original release, it features Kendrick Lamar and Tech N9NE collaborator, Gee Watts, along with producer/rapper Duncan Burnett. Duncan Burnett produced all the songs except Childhood Crush, produced by M. Fasol. This concept EP sets the tone of love and greatness via future soul, live instruments, and summer vibes. Sauce’s earlier releases charted on Billboard, iTunes and Amazon Hip-Hop charts. He has released over 9 professional projects including a collaboration EP. He sold out his 2013 release party at 7th Heaven, landed on a billboard chart, has featured on various hip-hop blogs, and his anti- violence hit “Gunshots” has been featured on Hot 103 Jamz, 95.3 FM, 90.1 FM. Recently, he organized his first regional tour that included St. Louis, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Salina, Kansas and many other Kansas City metro venues.]

93. Approach – Elegant Knock / Datura Records / January 20, 2017
[Lawrence based Sean Hunt is Approach. Sequenced, Produced, Recorded, Mixed & Mastered By: Aikido Bray at Prosidio Gardens in Lawrence. Sean Hunt writes: “Elegant Knock” started out as a beat album named after a production night I throw in Lawrence. It turned into a 10 track album that pays respect to a sound and vibe that I loved in High School. It isn’t a throwback project on some I wish it was 96′ ish, it’s a “why aren’t we still freaking these sounds now” thang. My original concept was flipped when I dug out my old Ensoniq EPS 16+ and started funking around. The next thing I knew I was making an album I wanted to rap on. I did all of the production on the EPS (everything and it’s was headache) and made a few mixing edits on the Ensoniq ASR-10 (mainly stereo pans). I pushed myself to use the tools of yesteryear to capture the feeling I was seeking out (it was a pain in the ass and I lost a ton of beats in the process). I loved every second of it though. I feel like it’s the perfect bridge between my Lincoln Marshall project with Milkdrop and my album “Antique Mall” (coming out soon).]

94. The Ants – Golden Submarine / Beyond Records / October 13, 2017
[The Ants 10th release and their 8th full length album. Band member Chad Bryan says thet “It is safe to say they have been under the radar for the past 17 years. We’ve long been a band other bands enjoy, but haven’t really gotten past that and into a larger audience. We’ve been releasing music independently for the past ten years and were on a small label out of Chicago called Sickroom Records prior to that. We’ve been relegated to local and regional work the past several years due to real life obligations. We did quite a bit of touring 2003-2010. The nucleus of the band is a four piece that has been together since 2006. Half of the band lives in Lawrence, the other half in Kansas City.” Band members include: David Randall, Sean McEniry, Brad Nichols, Chad Bryan. http://www.killtheants.com] [The Ants played a KC Release show at Holy Cow, Nov 12.]

96. The Life and Times – The Life and Times / Slimstyle Records / April 28, 2017
[5th full length studio album, and 10th release from KC based indie band formed in 2002. Current members include: Allen Epley, Eric Abert, and Chris Metcalf. Past members include: Rob Smith, John Meredith, and Mike Meyers. Band has toured with: The Appleseed Cast, Murder by Death, Pelican, Mono, Sparta, Pinback, Engine Down, and William Elliott Whitmore.]

97. Aimee Mann – Mental Illness / Aimee Mann – SuperEgo Records / March 31, 2017
[9th solo studio release from Aimee Mann who was born September 8, 1960 and is a rock singer, singer-songwriter, bassist & guitarist. She was the bassist and a vocalist for the band ‘Til Tuesday during the 1980s and since then has primarily performed as a solo musician. She is married to Michael Penn. In 1999, Mann recorded original material for the soundtrack to the Paul Thomas Anderson film Magnolia, which earned both Academy Award and Grammy Award nominations for the song “Save Me”. She negotiated a contract release from David Geffen and founded her own label, SuperEgo Records.]

98. Ariel Pink – Dedicated To Bobby Jameson / Kemado Records / September 15, 2017
[11th studio album LA’s prodigal songwriting son Ariel Pink. The album’s title makes a direct and heartfelt reference to a real-life L.A. musician, long presumed dead, who resurfaced online in 2007 after 35 reclusive years to pen his autobiography and tragic life story in a series of blogs and YouTube tirades. “His book and life resonated with me to such a degree,” Pink states, “that I felt a need to dedicate my latest record to him.” Dedicated to Bobby Jameson begins at the end and ends at the beginning. “We follow the protagonist through a battery of tests and milestones, the first of which sees him reborn into life out of death,” Pink explains, referencing the opening track “Time To Meet Your God.” “From there, he seesaws his way between the innocent love and the rock-solid edifice of childhood-worn trauma that together constitute his lifelong initiation into the realm of artifice and theatrical disposability.” Ariel Pink started as a visual artist before becoming a recording artist in the late ‘90s while attending Cal Arts. Drawing on iconoclasts and trailblazers like the Shaggs, the Cure, the Velvet Underground, Destroy All Monsters, Cabaret Voltaire, and R. Stevie Moore, Pink set himself to redefining the musical lexicon for himself and others. “This mission,” he says, “remains mine to this day.” More info at: http://www.ariel-pink.com.]

99. Judith Owen – Somebody’s Child / Twanky Records / March 3, 2017
[11th studio album from Welsh born singer songwriter and co-founder of Twanky Records with her husband, Harry Shearer. This albums follows her 10th release “Ebb & Flow.” It features three of the four members of “The Section”: Leland Sklar on bass, Russell Kunkel on drums and Waddy Wachtel on guitar.] [Judith Owen played The Uptown Theatre, Friday, March 24, at 8:00 PM with legendary bassist Leland Sklar, in her band, opening for Bryan Ferry.]

100. HighWesthus – The Trilogy (Part I, II, III) / Datura / August 26, 2017
[Written, produced, performed by HighWesthus, and mixed & mastered by Leyone Tracks. HighWesthus was born Shaun Teamer, in Chicago, Illinois. Now based in Kansas City, in October 2016 HighWesthus released Part III. The ILLU as the last official album of the Trilogy Set that began with the May 2015 release, Part I. The Dead, and continued with the November 2015 release, Part II. The Wise. Recently Lawrence based Datura Records in co-release with Whatever Forever, released all 3 parts as one 29 song collection. HighWesthus is a freelance multimedia artist. He graduated from the KC Art Institute in 2012 with a BFA in Animation. He is one of four owners of Strange Paper Studio, based in Kansas City. HighWesthus specializes in illustration, animation, graphic design, video editing, sound editing, music producing, writing and storytelling.]

102. Nancy and Beth – Nancy and Beth / Herpursef / April 7, 2017
[“Please Mr, Jailer” was written by Wynona Carr (August 23, 1923 – May 11, 1976) an African-American gospel, R&B and rock and roll singer-songwriter, who recorded as Sister Wynona Carr when performing gospel material. Carr’s contralto vocals have a sensual, husky quality which made her eventual switch to R&B and rock & roll seem a logical choice in retrospect. Carr’s gospel recordings are very much influenced by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, incorporating blues and jazz stylings and R&.B. Her early R&B material (for which she is probably best remembered now) was often uptempo, rock & roll-styled and similar in sound to fellow R&B/rock & roll artists on the Specialty roster like Little Richard, Lloyd Price and Larry Williams, with a strong New Orleans-style backbeat and a rich, warm production. Her final Specialty sessions, conducted by Sonny Bono in 1959, cut down on the rock & roll influences. Both Carr’s gospel and R&B recordings went largely unappreciated during the time they were released, but found a new audience when Specialty Records released two CDs, covering Carr’s entire output on the label.Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt met in Austin Texas while filming the independent movie Somebody Up There Likes Me. The minute the two started singing together they realized they had something special. They formed the band Nancy and Beth in 2012. formed the band Nancy and Beth in 2012. They went on tour in March 2013. They are set to release their debut album just before a North American tour. Actress, singer, Emmy and Golden Globe Awards winner, MEGAN MULLALLY (Karen on NBC’s Will & Grace, Children’s Hospital, Party Down) . STEPHANIE HUNT (Friday Night Lights, Californication and How To Live With Your Parents For the Rest of Your Life). [Nancy and Beth played an Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International Conference, February 15.] [Megan Mullally presented awards for the Best of 2016 Album, Song, and Artist of the Year, at the International Folk Music Awards, February 15, 2017 at the Westin Hotel in KC.]

103. Cindy Wilson – Change / Kill Rock Stars / December 1, 2017
[Cindy Wilson’s solo debut arrives in time to celebrate the singer’s 40th anniversary in the musical spotlight. CHANGE began for Wilson nearly a decade ago upon her part-time return to her hometown of Athens, GA. She first encountered local musician Ryan Monahan when his Beatles tribute band was hired to play her son’s birthday party – “One of the best parties ever,” says Wilson. The veteran vocalist and talented young musician began teaming up for gigs, beginning with R.E.M.’s star-studded 30th anniversary event. “Ryan and drummer Lemuel Hayes and I put together a few songs and it was fantastic,” Wilson says. “That started our own musical relationship.” Wilson and her new bandmates continued performing together, first playing classic garage and psychedelic covers but ultimately deciding to create new music all their own. They hit the studio in 2014, with local producer-musician Suny Lyons manning the board. The songs and sonic concepts flowed like the Broad River, leading Wilson to invite Lyons to join her fast developing combo. “We went to Suny’s studio to kick around ideas and see if we can do anything interesting,” Wilson says. “We wanted to see how our styles would blend. He comes from a totally different place than I do but I was great. It also became immediately clear we had to bring Suny in to be part of the band, he also had wonderful ideas. I had a really great team.” Backed by her gifted collaborators, Wilson developed a distinctive sound rooted in her long history of kaleidoscopic pop reinvention. Earlier this year Cindy released a pair of EPs, SUNRISE and SUPERNATURAL with both acclaimed by PopMatters for possessing “an undeniable sense of adventure.” Produced by Lyons at The Space Station in Athens, melding future pop, disco drama, American standards, electronica, and more into her own distinctive creative vision. “Our sound is both consistent and still evolving,” Wilson says. “These ingredients come together from left field to create something really interesting.” Further album highlights include a pair of unexpected covers: a widescreen orchestral rendition of New Colony Six’s soft rock classic, “Things I’d Like to Say,” and “Brother,” written and originally performed by Athens’ own beloved Oh-OK. “We played a show, Athens musicians playing songs by other Athens bands,” Wilson says. “We did an R.E.M. song, a Pylon song, and ‘Brother’ by Oh-OK, which turned out so great we decided it had to be on record. It hits you over the head; it’s an interesting texture. It brings the album home I think.A veteran of one of pop’s most consistently entertaining live acts, Wilson is heralding CHANGE with an unprecedented multimedia concert tour. Merging conceptual structure, unique visuals, and kicked off in March with SXSW, Wilson and her bandmates are touring the US (in a van, it should be mentioned). “The show is totally different from anything I’ve done before,” Wilson says. “It has an incredible flow, from beginning to end. The great thing about touring a show like this is you can solve problems and tweak things as you go along.” “Everyone has other bands, other jobs,” Wilson says. “I’ve got the B-52s’ fortieth anniversary, there’s a lot going on with that. At the same time, I’m very committed to this record and continuing to perform with these guys. We’re trying to go into the studio at least once a month, to continue working creatively and keep the songs coming. We’re still experimenting, still growing, but it retains a certain sound. I feel very comfortable in this band. I’m loving it.” Cynthia “Cindy” Leigh Wilson was born February 28, 1957. She is a singer, and is one of the lead vocalists, songwriter and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s. The B-52’s were formed when Wilson (who was born in Athens, Georgia), alongside her older brother and guitarist Ricky, organist and vocalist Kate Pierson, drummer and percussionist Keith Strickland, and vocalist Fred Schneider played an impromptu musical jam session after sharing a tropical Flaming Volcano drink at a local Chinese restaurant. They later played their first concert in 1977 at a Valentine’s Day party for their friends. Wilson and the others broke into the music world with their campy, ’60s retro band. Their 1979 debut album The B-52’s, yielded the hit singles “Rock Lobster” and “Planet Claire” and launched the band into stardom. On April 21, 1985, Wilson married Keith Bennett, a successful advertiser who was a longtime friend of the band and Ricky’s guitar tech on tour. Ricky died later that year, leaving her devastated. Wilson took a sabbatical from the band in 1990 to concentrate on raising a family, during which time The B-52’s recorded and released the album Good Stuff as a trio of Pierson, Schneider and Strickland. During the live tour to promote the Good Stuff album in 1992 and 1993, Julee Cruise sang as a replacement for Wilson. Wilson rejoined The B-52’s in 1994. In 1998 she took part in recordings from which two new songs were selected to be included along with the band’s hit singles on the album Time Capsule: Songs for a Future Generation. Wilson then took maternity leave in 1999 (being replaced on tour by Gail Ann Dorsey), later rejoining the band in 2001 for regular touring of their greatest hits. The B-52’s completed the album Funplex in 2007 and it was released in March 2008. Wilson co-wrote every song on the album with the three other band members. In all, she has co-written much of the band’s back catalogue, including “Dance This Mess Around”, “Private Idaho” and all of the Cosmic Thing album including hit singles “Love Shack” and “Roam”. Wilson’s vocal efforts include the typical B-52’s “call-and-response” vocals with Schneider and/or Pierson, as well as her harmonies with Pierson on the band’s all-female songs such as “Roam”, “52 Girls”, “Cake”, “Legal Tender”, “Summer of Love” and “Juliet of the Spirits”. One of the band’s signature elements is the setup between the three vocalists. However, Wilson sings the greatest number of solo performances in the band, especially on their earlier albums. Examples of Cindy’s solo vocal performances in The B-52’s include “Hero Worship”, “Loveland”, “Nip It in the Bud”, “Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland”, “Ain’t It a Shame”, “She Brakes for Rainbows” and the live favorite “Give Me Back My Man”. Wilson is the band’s bongosero, playing the bongos in regular live favorites “Planet Claire”, “Mesopotamia”, “Pump” and “Party Out of Bounds” as well as other songs such as “6060-842” and “Big Bird”.] [The B-52s played The Uptown, Oct 22. Cindy Wilson played Riot Room, Nov. 17.]

104. Mene Mene – Stone, Steel, and Spark – EP / Mene Mene / September 9, 2017
[Their Bandcamp page described the band as: “Kansas City based Indie Alt Rock with some piano, some drums, and a whole lot of repressed feelings.” Written & performed by Brad Feagen & Alec Stockman.]

105. Looming – Seed / No Sleep Records / September 29, 2017
[Springfield, Illinois based band formed in 2013. The band consists of: Jessica Knight on bass & lead vocals, Brandon Carnes on drums & backing vocals, Mitch Baker on guitar & backing vocals, Nick Demarco on guitar, Cassie Staub on guitar & synthesizer. (Original member Jordan Fein left the band after their debut release.) “The band originally came together over a shared common vision and passion for songwriting. After years performing in various Springfield bands (Mother Leopard, Lovecow, Our Lady, Big Storm) the group fell into a natural groove with one another and became known for their unique emo-pop that’s led by the inimitable vocal stylings of Knight that pair perfectly with the band’s bright, airy sound.” “Three guitars work together to perform thick, overlapping lines that lead to satisfying breakdowns. Front-woman Jessica Knight’s curious, chewy singing style and a thumping rhythm section give Looming a potent edge above their peers. ” This album is a follow up to their debut full-length album, Nailbiter that came out in August 14, 2015.]

106. Ivy – Bad Intuition / Ivy / April 14, 2016
[Debut recording from Kansas City native singer songwriter, who plays piano and guitar, and produces beats. Her style ranges from R & B, Neo Soul, Hip Hop, Acoustic, and Pop. She has performed on stage at Lincoln Center in NYC, regional Festivals, Los Angeles, and collaborates with film and performance. Written and produced by Ivy. More info at http://www.itsjustivy.com] [Ivy played Crossroads Music Fest, Sat, Sept 9.]

107. The Dear Misses – Just Let Go / The Dear Misses / February 28, 2017
[This is The Dear Misses first full length album. “Just Let Go” was written over the course of 4 years. TDM started as a side project for lead singer Todd Anderson and Guitarist Cody Stapleton and caught full sail upon the addition of Drummer Bret Collins in 2014 and Bassist Shane Berggren in Late 2015. This Lawrence Kansas based 4-piece band made up of: Todd Anderson on lead vocals & rhythm guitar, Cody Stapleton on lead guitar & backing vocals, Bret Collins on drums, and Shane Berggren on bass. The band is currently in the studio recording songs for their upcoming release. More info at: http://www.reverbnation.com/thedearmisses%5D

108. Violent Bear – Post Everything / Violent Bear / March 24, 2017
[KC based garage folk band with hints of Southern Gothic and nods to old country roots, formed by husband and wife musicians: Stephen & Danger Herzig, who rotate on a variety of instruments. The band also includes: Noah Cassidy on lead guitar, Jonas Cassidy on bass, and Jake Rogers on synthesisers. Violent Bear also released multiple single tracks this year.] [Violent Bear played PorchFest KC on Saturday, October 14.]

109. Westerners – Reoccurring Dream Theme / The Record Machine / July 14, 2017
[Debut full length album from Lawrence / Kansas City based band formed in August of 2013. The band includes: Mitch Hewlett, Josh Hartranft, Matthew Pesma and Gerardo Rojas. Westerners signed to Kansas City independent label The Record Machine in 2015.] [Westerners played an album release at Mills Record Co, Fri, July 7, w/ Shortsweather and at Love Garden Records, Lawrence, July 8, w/ No Magic, and CS Luxem.]

110. Bobby Sauder – Dark Empire Fairgrounds / Whatever Forever / Feb 24, 2017
[Debut solo release from Bobby Sauder of the Lawrence Kansas based band Karma Vision and cofounder of Whatever Forever Records. After the birth of his first child, Sauder found himself putting on a lot of folk and country records to help keep the volume down around the house. The influence of musicians like Townes Van Zant, Emmylou Harris, and The Band influenced his songwriting. All the songs were writtenon a guitar that only had 5 strings. Music and lyrics by Bobby Sauder (except “Josie Darner” written by Carey Scott and “Will You Bury Me?” written by Jamie Lacore). Produced by Bobby Sauder and Ross Williams. Engineered by Ross Williams. Mixed by Ross Williams and Bobby Sauder. Mastered by Brian Miller. Drums on tracks 1,3,5,6 played by Mark Osman Organ on track 7 played by Ben Sauder. Lyrics Collaborator on tracks 3 and 4 is Carey Scott. Track 2 co-engineered by Brad Girard. Recorded in Lawrence, Kansas.]

112. JohnnySuperColossal – Doors in the Wall / HearYou Music / Oct 27, 2017
[JohnnySuperColossal is the musical project of KC based Shawn Stewart who is originally from Chicago.]

113. Combo Los Yogas – Cañabrava Música / Vampisoul – Discos Fuentes / Feb 10, 2017
[Vampi Soul re-issue of an obscure 1968 Discos Fuentes gem Cañabrava by Combo Los Yogas, a short-lived early Colombian salsa band from Medellín directed and arranged by Aníbal José Ángel Echeverri, the famous antioqueño keyboardist known as Aníbal Ángel or simply Anán. Employing Barranquilla native Johnny Moré as his lead vocalist and a full combo with trumpet, trombone, congas and timbales, Los Yogas recorded a fantastic collection of cover tunes in the guaguancó, son, guajira, descarga, and cha-cha-chá rhythms. The sound is very raw and hard, something that makes this obscure 1968 Discos Fuentes record a sought-after collector’s item. Thanks to the inherent quality and execution of its repertoire, “Cañabrava” provides a wonderful snapshot of the influences and early development of the genre of salsa in 1960s Colombia.]

115. Ramy Essam – Letter to the UN Security Council / Ramy Essam / 2016
[Ramy Essam was born in 1987, in Mansoura, Egypt. He is an Egyptian musician, best known for his appearances in Tahrir Square in Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. His song Irhal, in which then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was urged to resign, gained great popularity among the demonstrators. It became internationally known through YouTube, and is referred to as the anthem of the revolution. In 2011, it was selected by Time Out as the third-most world-changing song of all time. He currently sings hard rock songs, one of the few singers in Egypt to sing rock. Ramy also expressed his mourning of the revolution’s martyrs on Facebook. On 9 March 2011, when the Egyptian Army forcibly cleared the square, he was arrested and tortured. In October 2014, Essam was offered safe city residence for two years by the Malmö Municipality of Sweden. He is the first musician who has been offered this by Malmö but two writers have been offered it before. In addition to the residence permit, he also gets accommodation. He describes his situation as an artist in Egypt as “terrible” and is happy he can come to Sweden to study. Essam says it will be the first time he has the chance to study music, that he will keep make music and be an ambassador of the Egyptian revolution. Essam was featured on the 2014 compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring that paired Western musicians with artists from the Arab Spring, Essam’s “Bread, Freedom” was meshed with Mighty Sam McClain’s performance of “If I Can Dream”. This year Ramy Essam released the single “The Camp” with PJ Harvey. ] [Ramy Essam played Folk Alliance International conference where he received the 2017 Spirt of Folk Award.]

116. Ani DiFranco – Binary / Righteous Babe / June 9, 2017
[20th studio album from Ani DiFranco, who was born Angela Maria DiFranco on September 23, 1970. She is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, songwriter and businesswoman. She is a feminist icon. Although DiFranco’s music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock she has added punk, funk, hip hop and jazz influences. DiFranco created her own record label, Righteous Babe, giving her significant creative freedom. DiFranco supports many social and political movements by performing benefit concerts, appearing on benefit albums and speaking at rallies. Through the Righteous Babe Foundation DiFranco has backed grassroots cultural and political organizations supporting causes including abortion rights to gay visibility. She counts famed American folk singer and songwriter Pete Seeger among her mentors.] [Ani DiFranco attended Folk Alliance International’s 2017 conference to deliver a special presentation on Friday, February 17.]

117. The Coathangers – Parasite EP / Suicide Squeeze Records / May 5, 2017
[All female punk quartet from Atlanta, Georgia, includes: lead vocalist – Julia Kugel, drummer – Stephanie Luke, keyboardist – Candice Jones and bassist – Meredith Franco. The band formed in 2006 as a joke. After playing a house show, they were asked to open for The Hiss on the strength of their performance. The name “Coathangers” refers to a method of self-induced abortion and was chosen for its irreverent vulgarity; all of the band’s members are pro-choice]

Our list is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The 117 Best Recordings of 2017
(Part 3 of 4)

Wednesday MidDay Medley presents part-three, of our four-week special: The 117 Best Recordings of 2017. Based on playlists of this little ole radio show, we’ve compiled representative tracks from our favorite full-length and EP recordings of the year. We realize that these “Best of” lists can seem very subjective, however we ask that you please accept our list as a celebration of the year of music.

In 2017 we’ve played nearly 1000 different songs on the show, and from nearly 375 New & MidCoastal Releases. More than 200 of these releases were New MidCoastal Releases. Over 35 of the bands and artists in our “Best of” list have joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios. This past year we’ve interviewed nearly 200 guests. 70 of the representative recordings in our “Best of” list were MidCoastal Releases, produced by artists from here. It’s all good!

Tune in next Wednesday, December 27 for our finale to The 117 of Best Recordings of 2017.

2. (58.) Sheer Mag – “Just Can’t Get Enough”
from: Need To Feel Your Love / WILSUN RC / July 14, 2017
[Sheer Mag is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2014. Members include: Tina Halladay, Kyle Seely, Hart Seely, Matt Palmer, Ian Dykstra With a combination of 1970s rock and punk ethos, the band has continued to gather attention and has released three 7-inch EPs as of March 2016. In January 2015, Rolling Stone featured the band as one of “10 New Artists You Need To Know”, describing them as “a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of Seventies classic rock.”Four of five band members attended the State University of New York at Purchase. In 2016, the band was part of the Coachella 2016 line-up and performed on Late Night with Seth Myers. On May 10, 2017, Sheer Mag released “Need To Feel Your Love,” the first track off their first full-length record, Need To Feel Your Love.] [Sheer Mag played The Bottleneck, in Lawrence, KS, with Laffing Gas, The Whiffs, and Nancy Boys]

3. (57.) The National – “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”
from: Sleep Well Beast / 4AD / September 8, 2017
[Sleep Well Beast is the 7th studio album by The National, an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. Currently based in Brooklyn, the band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Founded by Berninger, Aaron Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Dessner and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003). Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. The band’s fourth and fifth studio albums, Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), increased their exposure significantly. In 2013, the band released its sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.]

4. (56.) Khrystal. – “M e L A N i N P o P P i N”
from: Q u a r t e r C e n t u r y L i v i n g / Khrystal. / September 1, 2017
[Khrystal’s debut EP. Written and performed by Khrystal. Produced by Katheryne Johnson. Khrystal Coppage is Editor-in-Chief of Khorage Magazine. She served as Production Manager at UMKC University News from 2015 to 2016. She graduated from UMKC in 2016 where she studied Family Studies. She graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2013. She is a graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, in KCK. http://mixtapemonkey.com/2073/khrystal-q-u-a-r-t-e-r-c-e-n-t-u-r-y-l-i-v-i-n-g. Late this year, Khrystal also released the three song EP, The Glow Up produced by Duncan Burnett on Novembr 7, 2017. [Khrystal. played Plus Vibes Only w/ Duncan Burnett x Riot at Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 PM, at recordBar, 1520 Grand, with Sauce, Mae C., Kartez Marcel, with sounds by Leonard Destroy.]

5. (55.) Diet Cig – “Leo”
from: Swear I’m Good At This / Father Daughter Records / April 7, 2017
[Pop-punk duo Alex Luciano on vocals & guitar, Noah Bowman on drums met at a house show in New Paltz, New York, in the summer of 2014. Bowman’s old band, Earl Boykins, was playing at the house show, where Luciano needed a cigarette lighter. She interrupted the band’s set to ask Bowman for one, but he gave her a bottle of wine instead. Afterwards, Luciano got his number and told him she’d make a music video for him. The next day, Bowman tattooed a daisy on Luciano’s foot and by August 2014, the pair were making music together. They officially named their act Diet Cig in September 2014. Luciano and Bowman confirmed. Swear I’m Good At This was produced, engineered and mixed by Christopher Daly at Salvation Recording Co. in New Paltz, NY with additional recording at Atomic Sound in New York City, and additional engineering by Travis DeJong and Dakota Bowman. It was mastered by Jamal Ruhe at West West Side.]

7. (53.) Erin Keller – “Distracted”
from: Distracted / Erin Keller / May 9, 2016
[KC based vocalist Erin Keller is originally from Waukee, Iowa. She was born in August, in 1980. Erin has been singing on a professional level for 25 years. Erin sang with the internationally competitive Des Moines Children’s Choir for 5 years, and 3 years in All-State choir in high school, which helped her earn a voice performance degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, in 2002. Erin peforms with the Grammy-Award winning Kansas City Chorale. Erin has also worked as a featured soloist with Owen Cox Dance Ensemble, New Ear, KC jazz musicians, the big band at University of Colorado, a West African Highlife Ensemble, the Balkan brass band Gora Gora Orkestar. Erin also has experience writing her own music, singing in rock, folk, and free improv settings and she more recently earned a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In Colorado she worked for two years in public schools teaching music and moved back to KC to continue her career as musician and educator. In April Erin released her new album, “Distracted,” and has been playing live shows while also being upfront and honest about her recent cancer diagnosis where she has received multiple rounds of chemo treatments. Erin Keller wrote the song “Distracted” and recorded her songs with Chad Meise. Immediately after the album was released Erin diagnosed with liver cancer and began treatments, while also going through a divorce, and moving to a new home. Throughout her chemo treatments Erin continued performing and producing shows, keeping an incredible sense of humor and strength through such a difficult period. She has successfully completed multiple round of chemo and the cancer is gone form her body, although she is currently recovering in the hospital from compilcations for surgery. We wish her well and send her all our love.] [Erin joined us live on the show on August 16.]

8. (52.) Nature Boys – “Grave”
from: 3LP / Mandible Records / April 28, 2017
[Danny Fischer on guitar & vocals, Suzanne Hogan on bass & vocals, Evan Malone on drums. Nature Boys started playing together in Kansas City, MO in September of 2009. They had their first show at Dave’s Stagecoach Inn and then left for their first tour in January of 2010. They’ve released all three of their abums and one single on vinyl. Nature Boys spend most of their time on the road,. The band played 31 shows throughout Europe in June and July of 2017.]

10:30 – Underwriting

9. (51.) Japanese Breakfast – “Road Head”
from: Soft Sounds from Another Planet / Dead Oceans Records / July 14, 2017
[Japanese Breakfast is the solo musical project of Michelle Zauner of Little Big League. Under the alias, Zauner has released two studio albums: Psychopomp (2016) and Soft Sounds from Another Planet (2017). Prior to her solo project, Michelle Zauner fronted Post Post, an indie pop band with students from Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, then started the Philadelphian emo band Little Big League. Zauner fronted the band between 2011 and 2014, before returning to her hometown of Eugene, Oregon in 2013. Zauner made the trek back home in the wake of her mother being diagnosed with cancer.While at home, tending her family in Oregon, Zauner began recording solo music. Zauner described the project as having much more to say following Tropical Jinx, the 2014 studio album by Little Big League. Originally, Zauner had begun to record early samples of music as a self-meditative and “instant-gratification” feeling.[3] Two years later, the solo project itself eventually became the work of Psychopomp the debut album by Japanese Breakfast. The name of the band, according to Zauner is a juxtaposition of Asian exoticism and American culture. Despite the name, Zauner is not of Japanese descent, but Korean descent.Zauner described the debut album as quite “dark and heavy-handed”, although she had a desire to make the music, urgent and “sonically upbeat.” On June 23, 2016, the Japanese Breakfast project was signed to the Dead Oceans label.]

10. (50.) Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Living In The City”
from: The Navigator / ATO Records / March 10, 2017
[Hurray for the Riff Raff is an American folk-blues and Americana band from New Orleans, Louisiana formed by lead singer and songwriter Alynda Segarra. Segarra was raised by her aunt Nereida in the Bronx where she developed an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown. She is of Puerto Rican descent. Her mother was former New York City Deputy Mayor Ninfa Segarra. Segarra became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when she was young. She left her home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains. During this time, around 2007, Segarra became a part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra, a band that was documented in a photo essay by Time Magazine in 2007. After two self-released albums, 2008’s It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You and 2010’s Young Blood Blues, Hurray for the Riff Raff released a self-titled CD composed of Segarra’s favorite songs from those records on Loose Music in Europe on March 21, 2011. Tracks from the band’s debut release received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. In February 2011, the band were featured in an article in The Times, based around the HBO TV series, Treme, with their track “Daniella” being listed in their selection of New Orleans’ essential songs. In May 2012, Hurray for the Riff Raff released Look Out Mama on their own label, Born to Win Records. Loose Music released Look Out Mama in Europe on August 20, 2012. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at The Bomb Shelter Studios and produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes).In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut, Small Town Heroes. The record features original songs written or co-written by Segarra, and features fiddler Yosi Perlstein, keyboard player Casey McAllister, and two members of The Deslondes: Sam Doores on guitar and Dan Cutler on bass.]

11. (49.) Jackie Shane – “Any Other Way”
from: Jackie Shane: Any Other Way / Numero Group / October 20, 2017
[Jackie Shane was born May 15, 1940. She is an American former soul and rhythm and blues singer, who was most prominent in the local music scene of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 1960s. She is originally from Nashville, Tennessee. In 1960, Shane moved to Montreal, Quebec, where saxophonist King Herbert Whitaker invited a young Shane along to watch the popular band Frank Motley and his Motley Crew at the Esquire Show Bar. Shane, who showed up in a bright red dress and her hair done up, sat down near the front. When Motley said, “Get that kid up here and let’s see what they can do,” pianist Curley Bridges invited her up onstage for the next set, where she performed songs by Ray Charles and Bobby “Blue” Bland. She was soon the band’s lead vocalist, and relocated to Toronto with them in late 1961. She sometimes returned to the United States to perform shows in Nashville, Boston, and Los Angeles. A fan mythology linked her to Little Richard, including claims that she had been Richard’s backing vocalist before moving to Canada or even that she was Richard’s cousin, although no verification of either claim has ever been found and no evidence exists that Shane ever made either claim herself. Music critic Carl Wilson has concluded that, while in reality Shane had deep and identifiable roots in the traditions of the Southern US Chitlin’ Circuit, the mythology emerged because that scene’s traditions were not known to Torontonians in the 1960s, and thus Little Richard was the only antecedent for Shane’s style that most of her local fan base could identify. Throughout her active musical career and for many years thereafter, Shane was written about by nearly all sources as a man who performed in drag. The few sources that actually sought out her own words on the matter of her own gender identification were more ambiguous, however; she identified herself as male in two early quotes to the Toronto Star, but more often appeared to simply dodge questions about her gender altogether. Her identity as a trans woman was not confirmed on the record by a media outlet until 2017. CBC Radio’s Inside the Music aired a documentary feature, “I Got Mine: The Story of Jackie Shane”, in 2010. At the time, nobody involved in the documentary had been able to determine whether Shane was still living; she was subsequently found still alive in Nashville.Footage of Shane in performance also appeared in Bruce McDonald’s 2011 documentary television series Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories. Jackie Shane Live was reissued in 2011 on Vintage Music as Live at the Sapphire Tavern, although the reissue was labelled as being from 1963 (the date of the original live performance) instead of 1967 (the release date of the album). The reissue also included Shane’s performances from Honkin’ at Midnight as bonus tracks. A compilation album of the studio singles and rarities, Soul Singles Classics, was released the same year. In 2015, the Polaris Music Prize committee shortlisted Jackie Shane Live as one of the nominees for the 1960s-1970s component of its inaugural Heritage Award to honor classic Canadian albums. It was shortlisted for the prize again in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, a group of Toronto writers published the essay anthology Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer, a history of LGBT culture in Toronto; in addition to taking its title from Shane’s 1962 single, the book includes an essay devoted specifically to Shane. In the summer of 2017, the reissue label Numero Group announced that they would be releasing a double-LP/CD compilation of Shane’s music, Any Other Way, on October 20, 2017. The album marks the first time since her final single in 1969 that Shane has been directly involved in the production and release of a reissue of her music.]

13. (47.) Curtis Harding – “Wednesday Morning Atonement”
from: Face Your Fear / Anti / October 27, 2017
[Curtis Harding is an American soul singer, born in Saginaw, Michigan. Raised as a Mennonite, Harding’s family had no home until they settled in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was 14. Harding’s father, a mechanic, and his mother Dorothy, a gospel singer, took Harding and his five siblings around the United States in a van, stopping at churches. While his mother performed, Harding grew up playing music, though he originally wanted to play professional sports. In the early 2000s, Harding was part of the hip-hop group Proseed. He rapped on and co-wrote CeeLo Green’s 2002 album Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections along with several Proseed members. He toured with Green as a backing singer on the Smokin’ Grooves Tour in 2002 alongside Outkast, Cypress Hill, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots. Harding spent time working with groups in Atlanta before moving to Toronto for a year. A year later, he “came back to record with some friends in my living room.” From these sessions came his debut album, Soul Power, on the indie label Burger Records, released May 6, 2014. He spent two weeks recording the album. Randy Michael composed the music on the single “Keep on Shining”, and Jason Reynolds co-wrote “Heaven’s on the Other Side” with Harding.He formed the band Night Sun with two Black Lips members, guitarist Cole Alexander and drummer Joe Bradley. His second album, Face Your Fear, was recorded at Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Studio in New York City. “Wednesday Morning Atonement” is the opening single. Harding will appear in Sundance TV’s period drama series Hap and Leonard. He will portray two characters: L.C. Soothe and his grandson, Bobby Joe. Harding describes his genre as “slop ‘n’ soul”, a combination of gospel, punk, psych rock, and blues. He has said that his influences include Albert King, the Everly Brothers, and Ronnie Dyson.]

14. (46.) The New Pornographers – “High Ticket Attractions”
from: Whiteout Conditions / New P’s LLC – Concord Music / January 27, 2017
[Seventh album from Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Presented as a musical collective of singer-songwriters and musicians from multiple projects, the band’s seven studio albums have all received critical acclaim for their use of multiple vocalists and elements of power pop incorporated into their music. The album features: Carl Newman on vocals & guitar, Neko Case on vocals, John Collins –on bass, Blaine Thurier on keyboards & synthesizer, Todd Fancey on lead guitar, Kathryn Calder on vocals, keyboards & guitar, and Joe Seiders on drums & vocals. This is the first album not to feature either longtime drummer Kurt Dahle or singer-songwriter Dan Bejar.]

15. (45.) Beck – “Dear Life”
from: Colors / Fonograf – Capitol / October 13, 2017
[13th studio album from Beck Hansen, born July 8, 1970. Colors was recorded at co-executive producer Greg Kurstin’s LA studio, with Beck & Kurstin playing nearly every instrument themselves. Beck rose to fame in the early 1990s with his sonically experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide genre styles. Today, he musically encompasses folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alt rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 13 studio albums (3 of which were independently released), as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.] [At the height of his first hit single “Loser” fame, on April 13, 1994, Beck played Kansas City’s Rhumba Box 1012 McGee. The Rhumba Box lasted from the summer of 1993 to the spring of 1994. Prior to The Rhumba Box, 1012 Megee was home to Human Observation Lab. In 1987 a group of UMKC students called Stimulus and Response took over the defunct gay bath house, Club Bath, at 1012 McGee and opened The Human Observation Lab. At night, this downtown neighborhood was basically deserted except for the old bus station, a few dive bars, and street prostitution. The Lab’s proprietors rehabbed the building into a two story live/work space that evolved into a legendary live performance venue. Gorilla Theatre, Eyes Wide Open, Mongol Beach Party, The Cocktails, and DJ Ray Velasquez are just a few of the off-the-wall performers that evolved out of this underground venue.]

11:00 – Station ID

16. (44.) The Sluts – “Wonderful”
from: Only One / The Sluts / May 25, 2017
[New 5 song EP from the Lawrence based band The Sluts formed by Ryan Wise & Kristoffer Dover in 2011.]

17. (43.) Erica Joy – “All In My Head”
from: Erica Joy, Introduction / Independent / February 3, 2017
[26 year old Kansas City based singer songwriter was Born April 8, 1991, and grew up in Springfield Missouri and went to Kickapoo High, graduating in 2009. Erica Joy graduated from UMKC in 2013. In 2015 her first single “Fun to Hold You” was released and remained in Homegrown Buzz’s rotation for over a year. EJ then released a full EP titled “Introduction” on February 3rd 2017 at Record Bar. For this recording Erica Joy on vocals, Britt Wild on lead guitar, Khitam Jabr on acoustic guitar,. Recorded and produced by Kyle Ward at Counterpoint Studio. This year Erica Joy also played Middle of The Map Fest, she was part of the HearQueer Issuue 001 launch, she has a new band, and is writing and recording new music with Colby Bales (lead guitarist of Instant Karma) Zach Harris (drummer of Instant Karma) and Branden Moser (bassist with Instant Karma) More information at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com,] [Erica Joy played an intimate theatre show, October 1st, at 7:00 PM, at Westport Coffeehouse Theatre debuting new songs, and playing new backing band – Colby Bales, Zach Harris, and Branden Moser. More at: http://www.ericajoymusic.com] [Erica Joy joined us live on WMM on September 13.]

18. (42.) Run With It – “Don’t Waste My Time”
from: How To Start A Fire / Run With It / March 24, 2016
[The Kansas City based band Run With it includes Miguel Caraballo on lead vocals & guitar, Ben Byard on bass & vocals, and Daniel Cole on drums, The power trio are known for their energetic live shows, leaving it all on the stage, and working their musical assets to make their audiences happy. The band stays very busy touring, and recording. How To Start A Fire, recorded with producer Josh Gleave. Miguel Caraballo was born June 11, 1980 and is originally from Junction City, Kansas. Ben Byard grew up in El Dorado Kansas, and plays in David George and A Crooked Mile. Daniel Cole was born April 8, 1991 and graduated from Lee’s Summit West HS in 2009. Run With It have played all over the world including western Ukraine in Khitar. More information at: http://www.runwithitband.com][Run With It joined us live on WMM on March 22.]

19. (41.) David George – “Here I Go Again”
from: Here I Go Again – EP / David George / April 14, 2017
[One of 3 separate releases from David George in 2017. Produced by David George. Engineered & Mixed by Pat Tomek. Mastered by Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlabs. Photography & cover designed by Paul Andrews. David George on vocals, acoustic guitars; Erik Voeks on acoustic guitar, bass, vocals; Ben Byard on bass, mandolin, vocals; Mike Stover on pedal steel. Strings on “Live Love Lost” arranged by CJ Vanston & Adam Liebreich-Johnsen. Christine Broxterman on cello, violin. Ben Byard on violin; Joe Donley on upright bass. All songs written by David George. David released his 2nd EP, Won’t Let Go, on October 13. Recorded at Weights & Measures. Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower. David George on vocals & guitar, Mike Stover on pedal steel, David Luther, Erik Voeks, Ben Byard & Camry Ivory on harmony vocals. David George also released the single “Can’t Fight Love” on April 7, 2017 benefiting the ACLU. Recorded live at Weights & Measures Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Duane Trower, March 2, 2017. Produced by David George. Written by David George, Jen Appell, & Nathan Corsi, with David George on guitar & vocals (Verse 1 & 5), David Luther on vocals (Verse 2), Jen Appell on guitar & vocals (verse 3), Nathan Corsi on guitar & vocals (Verse 4), Erin McGrane on ukelele & vocals, Jeff Freling on guitar & vocals, Gordon Gilges on dulcimer & vocals, Kristina Ning on upright bass & vocals, Matt Cathlina on upright bass & vocals, Nathan Showalter on piano & vocals, Daniel Starling on piano & vocals, Liam Summicht on cajón & vocals, Phil Jaggard on Vocals, Mark Manning on vocals, John Keck on guitar & vocals, Nate Nall on guitar & vocals, Jessica Paige on vocals, Dave Tanner on vocals. Also this year David George and Erik Voeks performed together for multiple shows as The Volker Brothers. More info: http://www.davidgeorgeband.com]

20. (40.) Phoebe Bridgers – “Motion Sickness”
from: Stranger in the Alps / Dead Oceans / 2017
[Phoebe Bridgers was born August 17, 1994, and is from Los Angeles, California. Bridgers released her major label debut 7″ on Ryan Adams record label, PAX AM. In early 2016, Bridgers supported Julien Baker on her 2016 East Coast tour. Bridgers is a graduate of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. In 2014 she was featured in a commercial for the Apple iPhone singing a cover of “Gigantic” by the Pixies. In June 2017, Phoebe Bridgers signed to Dead Oceans. The Alps was produced by Tony Berg and Ethan Gruska.]

21. (39.) Broken Arrows – “All I Got”
from: Extended Play EP / Broken Arrows / March 18, 2017
[KC/Lawrence based 5-piece band, formed by Mike Penner on lead guitar & vocals; Bill Ryan on lead guitar, keyboards & vocals; John Chevalier on bass guitar & vocals; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; and Dave Storms on drums. Broken Arrows got together to play a Neil Young Tribute at Davey’s Uptown in 2015. They received such a positive reaction and enjoyed playing together so they decided to continue as a band. This song was written by Mike Penner who also sings lead vocals. Both John Chevalier and Dave Storms were previously in The Waspmen. Both have played extensively with many different bands in the Kansas City area. Mike Penner and Bill Ryan were previously in the KC power pop band, Honeywagen. Barry Lee had only played music very few times in public prior to the formation of this band. This is his first band. Mike Penner, Bill Ryan and John Chevalier are the principle songwriters for the band. They play mostly original material and some obscure covers.] [Broken Arrows premiered their debut EP, “Extended Play” with a Special Release show, March 18, at Records With Merritt.] [Broken Arrows joined us live on the WMM on March 15]

22. (38.) Instant Karma – “Make Me A Man”
from: Trying To Find My Mind / Independent / July 22, 2017
[Instant Karma! is a 4 piece psych/soul rock band from Kansas City, MO. Cole Bales on vocals & guitar, Cody Calhoun on guitar, Branden Moser on bass, Zach Harris on drums. All songs written by Instant Karma. Mixed by Zach Harris. Mastered at Eureka Mastering. Colby Bales and Cody Calhoun met in High School. They have been playing music together for 5 years. Thet became friends after forming the band. Instant Karma bass player Branden Moser has called the band, “a drug trip through the soul section of your local record store.” Instant Karma’s influences range from The Black Keys to Syl Johnson to the Wu Tang Clan. Instant Karma played an EP Release Show, Saturday, July 22, at Revolution Records. Instant Karma played Lawrence Field Day Fest, Thursday, July 13.] [Members of the band joined us live on WMM on July 12.]

23. (37.) Jametatone – “Too Late”
from: Empty Bliss / J. Ashley Miller / March 21, 2017
[New EP from Jametatone, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone. J. Ashley Miller is the The 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow. He is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His genre-bending trans-modern work has been performed everywhere from YJ’s to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, to the MoMa PS1 in NYC. Ashley utilizes a diverse range of technologies, techniques, and collaborators to access obscure facets of the human emotional landscape. Jametatone opened all four shows at The Outburst KC, where Calvin Arsenia performed his 2017 Release Catastrophe Unplugged with guest musicians Beau Bledsoe, Fritz Hutchinson, Mark Southerland, and artist & vocalist Seth M. Jones. You can view more of Ashley’s work at http://www.jametatone.com.][Jametatone played The Ship, 1217 Union Avenue, in the West Bottoms, on Halloween, Tuesday, Oct. 31, with Natural Man & The Gland Band, and Takin’ A Dive.]

11:30 – Underwriting

24. (36.) Kevin Morby – “Aboard My Train”
from: City Music / Dead Oceans / June 16, 2017
[4th release from Kevin Robert Morby born April 2, 1988. Kevin learned to play guitar when he was 10. In his teens he formed the band Creepy Aliens. 17-year-old Morby dropped out of Blue Valley Northwest High School, got his GED, and moved from his native Kansas City to Brooklyn in the mid-2000s, supporting himself by working bike delivery and café jobs. He later joined the noise-folk group Woods on bass. While living in Brooklyn, he became close friends and roommates with Cassie Ramone of the punk trio Vivian Girls, and the two formed a side project together called The Babies, who released albums in 2011 and 2012. He began a solo career in 2013 releasing his debut album Harlem River with positive reviews. His 2nd album Still Life was released in 2014. His last album Singing Saw was one of our 116 Best Recordings of 2016] [Kevin Morby played The Madrid, September 14, opening for The Mountain Goats.]

25. (35.) St. Vincent – “Masseduction”
from: MASSEDUCTION / Loma Vista Recordings – Concord Music Group / October 13. 2017
[5th studio album from St. Vincent who is also known as Anne Erin “Annie” Clark who was born September 28, 1982. Masseduction has been described as the “culmination of years of writing, with songs crafted from voice memos, text messages, and snippets of melodies that came to Clark while traveling the globe.” Clark has stated that the album focuses on themes of power, sex, drugs, sadness, imperiled relationships and death. In a press release, she stated: “every record I make has an archetype. Strange Mercy was Housewives on Pills. St. Vincent was Near-Future Cult Leader. Masseduction is different, it’s pretty first person. You can’t fact-check it, but if you want to know about my life, listen to this record.” Annie Clark was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mother is a social worker turned administrator for a non-profit organization and her stepfather works in the tax business. Clark’s parents divorced when she was three years old, and she moved to Dallas, Texas when she was seven years old with her mother and two older sisters. Her father lives in Tulsa. Clark was raised Roman Catholic and Unitarian Universalist. From her parents’ blended families, Clark has eight siblings: four brothers and four sisters. She began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and, as a teenager, worked as a roadie for her uncle and aunt, Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart, of the guitar-vocal jazz duo Tuck & Patti. After studying at Berklee College of Music for three years, she began her music career as a member of the Polyphonic Spree. Clark was also a member of Sufjan Stevens’s touring band before forming her own band in 2006. St. Vincent’s work has received consistent praise for its distinct musical style, which blends soft rock, experimental rock, electropop, and jazz influences. Her debut album was Marry Me (2007), followed by Actor (2009) and Strange Mercy (2011). She released a collaborative album with David Byrne in 2012 titled Love This Giant. Clark also contributed backing vocals for Swans on their 2014 album, To Be Kind. Her fourth solo album, self-titled St. Vincent, was released on February 25, 2014 and was named album of the year by The Guardian, Entertainment Weekly, NME, and Slant Magazine, as well as second best album of the year by Time magazine. The album won her a Grammy for Best Alternative Album, her first Grammy award. She was the first solo female performer in 20 years to win a Grammy in that category.][St. Vincent played The Uptown Theatre, Nov 19.]

26. (34.) The Whiffs – “Never Be Free”
from: Take A Whiff / High Dive Records / March 1, 2017
[Kansas City based power pop 4-piece band featuring members of Conquerors, Wet Ones, and Nubiles. Zach Campbell on bass & vocals, Rory Cameron on guitar & vocals, Nic Allred on guitar & vocals, Jake Cardwell on drums. Recorded and mixed by Vincent Lawhon at Element Studios, Kansas City, MO] [The Whiffs played The Riot Room, Thursday, July 21, with The Coathangers, and Residuals.]

27. (33.) Lovergurl – “My Body”
from: The President is a Sex Offender / Lovergurl / May 19, 2017
[The Kansas City based 4-piece band, Lovergurl caught our ear with their synth pop sound and lyrics reflecting social and political messages with hip hop and punk elements. Keyboardist and vocalist, Stephanie Bankston was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a graduate of The University of Missouri. She moved abroad in her 20s, and lived in Seoul, Korea, where she played in a mostly female band called BaekMa (“White Horse”). Stephanie returned to Kansas City in the Fall 2015. Brook Worlledge, is 25 years old and is a Kansas City native. She is the band’s drummer and she sings and writes songs for the band. Brook is a defender of the proletariat. Brook’s influences range from The B-52s, The Velvet Underground, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Lovergurl guitarist and vocalist, Heather Andrews is also 25. She was born and raised in Rhode Island, and moved to Kansas City in 2011 and fell in love with the city.][Lovergurl joined us live on WMM on May 17.]

28. (32.) KD Kuro –”JULES (feat. Domineko & Chase the Horseman (radio edit)”
from: Good-Luck / Kwame Boateng / August 1, 2017
[This track was produced by Chase the Horseman. KD Kuro is the musical project of Kwame Boateng, a Kansas City based rapper. He was born in Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from Olathe South High School in 2008. After attending Coffeyville Community College Kwame as KD Kuro started his rap career in 2012 and has been cultivating and refining his sound over the course of the last 5 years. Kwame grew up with musical influences like N.E.R.D and Missy Elliot that helped to mold the music he creates. His debut album was co-produced by Chase the Horseman and Nathan “Geesace” Gisecke. KD Kuro’s debut album is available at: http://www.kwamekuro.bandcamp.com] [KD Kuro Kwame Boateng & Chase The Horseman joined us live on WMM on Aug 2.]

29. (31.) Of Tree – “Feel It”
from: Sorry We’re Chosen [EP] / Of Tree / June 1, 2017
[Of Tree is Benjamin Parks on guitar & vocals, Laurel Morgan Parks on violin & fiddle & vocals and John Bersuch on percussion & sub-bass. The band explains “we like to build layers, loop strings, bow guitars and mix sampled beats with real ones as a backdrop for melodies on voice and traditional instruments. Emotional and expressive, our music draws inspiration from loss and triumph, failure and hope.” Of Tree began in 2009 and has taken many forms as it has evolved over time, including a full 5 piece folk band and, at one time, a classical trio backing Parks’ voice and guitar. Of Tree launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help record their new album and release their music on vinyl. Of Tree have been actively writing music for this project since the summer of 2016. Laurel writes “As a married couple its been quite a road for us to be able work through music together without taking things too personally (as people in relationships tend to do), but the magic happened last summer when music started pouring out of us and we were able just allow it to happen. Both of us come from fairly strict religious backgrounds and a lot of our lyrics have to do with healing from those experiences. We also deal with themes of finding new footing in life, moving beyond the past and letting go. Really this album is all about healing on a very personal level.” Laurel writes that she is, “very interested in pushing the boundaries of what instrumentation I can marry to my classical violin training. I have been cross pollinating between electronic music I write on the computer using midi inputs with melodies I write on my violin. I enjoy putting a techno beat behind a folk instrument such as the Kalimba or chime and then morphing that into a journey of layered strings and melodic hooks. I am always interested in melody over lyrics. A lot of the music I wrote for this album is inspired from studying folk traditions such as Celtic fiddling, thematic movie music and Peruvian icaros. ” John Bersuch, has been playing with Of Tree since November of 2016. He adds tasteful beats and enjoys thinking outside the box. He once brought a tree to an “Of Tree” show and played it as a percussive instrument. Ben Parks is a visual artist who also plays in the band Slights with Matthew Dunehoo. Laurel Parks also plays in The Wires, John Bersuch is in Bacon Shoe, RLT, and many others.][Of Tree joined us on WMM on May 24]

30. (30.) Sampha – “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano”
from: Process / Young Turks Recordings / February 3, 2017
[Sampha Sisay was born November 16, 1988. He performs under the mononym Sampha. He is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Morden, South London, United Kingdom. Sampha is known widely for his collaborative work with SBTRKT, Jessie Ware, Drake, Kanye West, Solange and others. Sampha has released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013). Sampha’s debut album, Process, won the 2017 Mercury Prize.]

Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

The 117 Best Recordings of 2017
(Part 3 of 4)

Wednesday MidDay Medley presents part-three, of our four-week special: The 117 Best Recordings of 2017. Based on playlists of this little ole radio show, we’ve compiled representative tracks from our favorite full-length and EP recordings of the year. We realize that these “Best of” lists can seem very subjective, however we ask that you please accept our list as a celebration of the year of music.

In 2017 we’ve played nearly 1000 different songs on the show, and from nearly 375 New & MidCoastal Releases. More than 200 of these releases were New MidCoastal Releases. Over 35 of the bands and artists in our “Best of” list have joined us live in our 90.1 FM studios. This past year we’ve interviewed nearly 200 guests. 70 of the representative recordings in our “Best of” list were MidCoastal Releases, produced by artists from here. It’s all good!

Tune into 90.1 FM, Wednesdays in December, on the 20th, and 27th. We’ll be packing 8-hours of radio with music that represent: The 117 of Best Recordings of 2017!

2. The National – “Guilty Party”
from: Sleep Well Beast / 4AD / September 8, 2017
[Sleep Well Beast is the upcoming seventh studio album by The National, an American indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. Currently based in Brooklyn, the band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Founded by Berninger, Aaron Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Dessner and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003). Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. The band’s fourth and fifth studio albums, Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), increased their exposure significantly. In 2013, the band released its sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, which was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.]

3. Radar State – “Double Speak”
from: “Double Speak” – 7″ Vinyl Single / Radar State / September, 2017
[Radar State features Josh Berwanger (The Anniversary, Berwanger) and Jim Suptic (The Get Up Kids, Blackpool Lights) trading off lead and rhythm guitar duties, with Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams) on bass, and Adam Phillips (The Architects, The Gadjits) on drums. Berwanger, Pryor, and Suptic all take turns on lead vocals, and that’s an integral part of the band’s direction, say the members.]

[Radar State play The Riot Room, 4048 Brpadway, Friday, July 28, at 8:00 PM, with Scruffy & The Janitors, and Archie Powell and The Experts]

5. Jake Wells – “Circle of Life”
from: Circle of Life – Single / Jake Wells / February 23, 2017
[Kansas City based indie folk singer songwriter. Jake Wells was born in Florida grew up in Colorado. Jake studied Music Composition at University of Northern Colorado. “Jake’s sound evokes an emotionality and maturity much deeper than his age of 21 would imply.” He was named one of Spotify’s top 20. He has performed on stages since he was a teenager. His single releases are currently gaining radio play in the Midwest on several FM stations. Jake released his newist single, “Honestly/Girls,” on October 30, 2016.]

[Jake Wells plays the patio at The Riot Room, Thursday, July 20, at 6:00 pm, with Shells]

6. Akkilles – “Changing on The Daily”
from: Fairgrounds Vol. 2 / Haymaker Records / February 29, 2016
[Singer/songwriter David Bennett formed the KC based band Akkilles in 2011. For this songle track, released by Artist on April 29, 2017, Kayla Bennett sings background vocals on the chorus. Everything else was written, produced and performed by David Bennett at Aorist Studios in Kansas City. In 2013 David released Something You’d Say on vinyl with David Bennett on lead vocals & guitar, Isaac Anderson, on drums; Rachel Pollock on violin, piano, percussion, & vocals; Nick Pick on Bass & vocals; Jeff Larison on lead guitar & dobro. David Bennett is getting set to release a new Akkilles album.]

[Akkilles plays Tito’s Sound Machine KC, Saturday, July 22, at 8:00 pm, recordBar, with Men of Men, Coby & The Prisoners, and The Holidays.]

8. Storm – “Intro”
from: Sol Train (inspired by the play Sun of The Revolution) / NUWAYV Order / July 21, 2017

10:30 – Interview with Cynthia Hardeman

Cynthia Hardeman on the July 19, 2017 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Kansas City based playwright, Cynthia Hardeman joins us to share details about her new play, Sun Of The Revolution, co-written with hip hop artist Storm, for this year’s KC Fringe Festival, with performances running July 21 through July 29 at Phosphor Studio in Kansas City. This play explores the generational gap between today’s style of hip hop in comparisons to the Golden Era. When a young man disturbs an older gentleman’s peace on a train ride, a battle of will and wit ensues.

Cynthia Hardeman, thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Cynthia Hardeman currently serves as Playwright and Program Director for Drama Time (Children’s Theatre Program) at Just Off Broadway Theatre. She is a Parent Aide and Family Support Specialist with MO Div. of Family Services. And, Cynthia is an avid supporter and volunteer for KC MeltingPot Theatre.

Cynthia Hardeman was last on Wednesday MidDay Medley in July 2014 to discuss her KC Fringe Festival production, “Dueling Doulas,” for Girl on Girl Productions, with playwrights, Teresa Leggard and Michelle T. Johnson.

Directed by Karen Paisley — Performances running July 21 through July 29

Friday July 21, at 6:00pm
Monday, July 24, at 9:00pm
Wednesday. July 26, at 7:30pm
Thursday, July 27, at 6:00pm
Saturday, July 29, at 9:00pm

More info at: kcfringe.org/2017/07/01/sun-of-the-revolution/

The cast includes:

Jerron O’Neal last seen at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre in “Gem of the Ocean” from last season.

Freddie Freshman is a 2017 graduate of Paseo Academy of Performing Arts. He is also a hip hop artist, new on the scene in KC. He’s has also been cast in the play “Grapes Vine” to be presented in August, at Just Off Broadway Theatre.

Writers:

Cynthia Hardeman has written over 20 plays and has had 7 of them produced. She worked in the Air Force for over 8 years, and later served as Broadcast Designer for KSHB TV. After graduating from UMKC Cynthia jumped head first into being a playwright. She is currently working on a new play called, “Truth Stands” a collaboration with dancer James Clark.

Storm is a Kansas City based MC, poet, and writer. Born Laneshia Shanay Neely, Storm graduated from Lee’s Summit Senior High and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree from Metropolitan Missouri Community College. She stands 5’ 3” and weighs 120 pounds, but has a giant stage presence and voice when she grabs the mic. In a male dominated field, she commands respect. She lists her inspirations as: KRS-One to Queen Latifah. Since 2010 Storm has worked with the collaborative production company, NUWAYV Order with Khajewel, A.N.T.H.E.M., and Eveready.

10. The xx – “On Hold”
from: I See You / Young Turks Recordings / January 13, 2017
[3rd studio album by English indie pop band The xx, an English band formed in 2005 in Wandsworth, London. The band members met whilst studying at Elliott School, the same school that produced Hot Chip, Burial, Four Tet, and Pierce Brosnan. Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft started the band as a duo when they were 15 with Jamie Smith joining in 2006. I See You is the follow-up to their sophomore album Coexist, and is their first release in more than four years. Produced by Rodaidh McDonald and Jamie xx, who released his solo debut In Colour in May 2015. The band has stated that the record has a more distinctive sound and a more positive, open and “expansive” concept than the previous two albums. It was promoted with the lead single; “On Hold”, November 12, 2016.]

[The xx play Starlight Theatre October 3, at 8:00 PM with Perfume Genius.]

[The Coathangers play The Riot Room, Thursday, July 21, with The Whiffs, and Residuals.]

13. Violent Femmes – “Kiss Off”
from: Violent Femmes / Slash Records / April 13, 1983
[Violent Femmes are from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active from 1980 to 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009. As of 2013, the band is active again. The band has performed as a trio, including singer, guitarist and songwriter Gordon Gano, bassist Brian Ritchie, and four drummers: Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2009 and 2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), Brian Viglione (2013–2016), and John Sparrow (2016-present). Violent Femmes have released 9 studio albums and 15 singles during the course of their career. The band found immediate success with the release of their self-titled debut album in early 1983. Violent Femmes became the band’s biggest-selling album and was eventually certified platinum.Violent Femmes went on to become one of the most successful alt rock bands of the 1980s, selling over 9 million albums by 2005.]

[Violent Femmes play Crossroads KC Tuesday, July 25 with Echo and the Bunnymen.]

11:00 – Station ID

11:00 – Steve Gardels Guest Producer

Steve Gardels on the July 19, 2017 edition of Wednesday MidDay Medley on 90.1 FM KKFI.

Steve Gardels is a member of the band The Philistines, where he plays drums and contributes his design talents to the band’s promotional art. Steve also plays bass for The Uncouth. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Steve studied Digital Filmmaking and Photography/New Media at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he now currently works in the Media Center. Steve has also played in the bands Appropriate Grammar, and Panic Addicts. Steve has collaborated as a musician, designer, video & filmmaker with many arts and theatre groups in Kansas City.

Steve Gardels, thank you for being with us in Wednesday MidDay Medley.

14. The Clash – “Safe European Home”
from: Give ‘Em Enough Rope / CBS Records / November 10, 1978
[2nd studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash formed by Joe Strummer on lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar; Mick Jones on lead guitar, backing and lead vocals; Paul Simonon on bass guitar, backing vocals; and Topper Headon on drums.]

15. Alert! Alert! – (c’mon c’mon c’mon) Let’s Rip It Up
from: Less Fashion More Thrashin’ / Alert! Alert! / 2004
[Out of print. Jordan David Carr of Oddities Prints shared this recording with Steve Gardels. Alert! Alert! were a Kansas City punk band formed by KC Punk Pioneer, Brian Saunders and friends.]

16. The Uncouth – “Same Old Story”
from: Jonesy’s War / Teenage Heart Distro /August 12, 2016
[Debut EP from KC based, modern American Oi! band formed in 2010. Cody Blanchard on lead vocals & guitar, CJ Wilson on lead guitar & vocals, Todd Rainey on drums, and Steve Gardels on bass. Recorded at Element Recording with Joel Nanos. Produced by Johnny Starke.]

[The Uncouth play Blind Tiger, Saturday, July 23, with Braindead, and Vicious Dream.]

17. King City Thieves – “Seeds of Deception” (Radio Edit)
from: We Got Arms / King City Thieves / 2012
[The band included: Knapp on drums & backing vocals, Cody Blanchard on rhythm guitar & vocals, CJ Wilson on lead guitar & front vocals, and Jason Schelp on bass & backing vocals. King City Thieves formed after vocalist and lead guitarist CJ Wilson collaborated on a project in late 2006 with bassist Dave Blank. CJ and Dave immediately found themselves on the same page musically and quickly became friends, but, as tensions and creative differences grew, that band soon ran it’s course. CJ and Dave decided to continue on with a new band and were joined a flashy, energetic drummer by the name of Boogie. In late 2008, King City Thieves were born. In a relaxed upper floor on US Highway 69, King City Thieves were busy writing an undeniable tapestry of punk rock n’ roll. After perfecting a sets worth of material, King City Thieves decided to call on long time friend of everyone in the band Chris Masochist to step in on rhythm guitar and vocals to make the sound fuller and well, louder. In the summer of 2009, King City Thieves recorded their debut EP titled “Whirlwind EP” that has sparked a fire in the punk rock and rock n’ roll community in the greater Kansas City area and even garnered some attention overseas. Unfortunately, Boogie had to part ways with the band though they all still remain great friends and supporters of each other. Knapp, another long time friend of the band came in and took up the drummer position and thickening up the backing vocals. Since the full lineup’s conception, King City Thieves have played in and drew crowds in all of Kansas City’s premier bars, clubs, hotspots, and basements. King City Thieves are a rowdy and resilient group of musicians that no matter what have each others backs and have established rock hard common ground musically. ]

18. Hopeless Destroyers – “Both Feet”
from: unreleased track from studio sessions / Weight and Measures / 2015
[A KC Punk band that managed to make it through 10 years of lineup changes and hardship. Defined by their breakneck chord changes and singer Josh Betterton’s rapid vocal delivery, Hopeless Destroyers hit you with intense songs about life, love, loss and kicking vampires in the nuts. Once described as “[…] bar punk with a lot of ‘woahs’, but better than a lot of that other bullshit” by Maximum Rock N Roll Magazine.] “Both Feet” is from an unfinished LP. The track was recovered from a session with Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlabs in KCMO. On this recording: Josh Betterton on vocals; Smiley on backup vocals and lead guitar; Matt Klein on backup vocals & guitar; Brittain Lawless on bass; and Kriss Ward on drums. Editor’s note: The Destroyers were Steve Gardels first punk show in KC and I was their final drummer. Guitarist Matt Klein and vocalist Josh Betterton both passed away due to complications from drug addiction. They are greatly missed.)

20. The Philistines – “Arecibo”
from: The Backbone of Night / The Record Machine / June 4, 2016
[KC based rock band with a psychedelic bent. For this record: Kimmie Queen on lead vocals; Cody Wyoming on lead guitar & vocals; Rod Peal on guitar; Michelle Bacon on bass & vocals, Josh Mobley on keyboard, Steve Gardels on drums. Recorded & mixed with Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound Studios and mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering.]

21. Stone Grower – “Animal”
from: Stone Grower / Stone Grower / To be released in 2017
[Cosmic Rock from the plains. Parker Mays on bass guitar and vocals; Matthew Ray on guitar; Luke Pierce on organ and keyboards; Taylor McClure on drums. Stone Grower does its homework. This band has managed to condense their favorite parts of psych rock into tight compositions that feature every players’ unique ability while serving the song itself. Sabbath, Sleep, 13th Floor Elevators and Yes [but in a good way] come to mind. Though they pull from the greats, Stone Grower keeps things fresh as they worship the riffs they summon. Big drums, loads of guitar, a thunderous low end and the tasteful layering of keyboards expands their sound and brings something new to the potentially jaded psych listener.]

Next week, on July 26, we’ll feature interviews with the creators of shows from KC Fringe Festival that feature music and theatre. Jen Appell joins us to share details about her show “Arc of Joan.” Also, Joseph Fletcher joins us to share information about his show “There Ain’t No More”, which won Best of Orlando Fringe Festival, earlier this year

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

2. Mysterious Clouds – “Visions of 10”
from: Panic on the Non Meridian / Haymaker Records / May 26, 2017
[For this release the band writes: “Crazy times call for crazy music. Panic is a reflection of the turmoil in our hearts, minds, and country. Sometimes you have to embrace the wild times to get a clear mental picture of how to make thing better.” Mysterious Clouds is one of the musical projects of Kansas City, Kansas based post-punk psychedelic musical artists, Dedric Moore and Delaney Moore and special guests. The brothers are also founders of the critically acclaimed band Monta At Odds. Mysterious Clouds also releaxed the EP, Clear Reflection, February 3, 2017. Their song “Clear Reflection” was also include ion the Haymakers records compilation, Fairgounds Vol. 2 Released March 24, 2017.]

3. dead dads club – “5cheeselasagna”
from: Cupid Talez / dead dads club / May 20, 2017
[On January 27 dead dads club released, the 11-song, “Dead Dad Money,” and since the release of the 8 song “Cupid Talez,” on May 20, dead dad’d club released the 8-song “:0,” yesterday, June 6. Dead Dads Club is 17 year old KC based songwriter Alice who self produces her acoustic pop music in her bedroom.]

4. Lovergurl – “My Body”
from: The President is a Sex Offender / Lovergurl / May 9, 2016
[The Kansas City based 4-piece band, Lovergurl caught our ear with their synth pop sound and lyrics reflecting social and political messages with hip hop and punk elements. Keyboardist and vocalist, Stephanie Bankston was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a graduate of The University of Missouri. She moved abroad in her 20s, and lived in Seoul, Korea, where she played in a mostly female band called BaekMa (“White Horse”). Stephanie returned to Kansas City in the Fall 2015. Brook Worlledge, is 25 years old and is a Kansas City native. She is the band’s drummer and she sings and writes songs for the band. Brook is a defender of the proletariat. Brook’s influences range from the B52s, The Velvet Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Lovergurl guitarist and vocalist, Heather Andrews is also 25. She was born and raised in Rhode Island, and moved to Kansas City in 2011 and fell in love with the city.]

10:06 – Pledge Break #1

5. Making Movies -“Brave Enough (feat. Hurray for the Riff Raff & Alaina Moore)”
from: I Am Another You / Making Movies / Expected May 26, 2017
[3rd full length release: from Kansas City based 4-piece band and made up of two sets of brothers: Enrique Chi on guitar and lead vocals; Diego Chi on bass & vocals; Juan-Carlos Chaurand on percussion & keyboards; and Andres Chaurand on drums. The band draws their influences from the origins of their families: Santiago, Panama, and Kansas City, Missouri, and Guadalajara, Mexico.]

[Enrique Chi of Making Movies is performing at KKFI Collaborations June 30, The Folly Theatre.]

[Making Movies will be performing with Ensemble Iberica, Thursday, July 27, at recordbar.]

6. Calvin Arsenia – “Experience”
from: Catastrophe / Calvin Arsenia / Expected: February 14, 2017
[Calvin Arsenia premiered these songs in a live show at recordbar last November. Since Calvin Arsenia came home to KC after living in Edinburgh, Scotland, he has released his EP, Moments, in 2014, and his EP Prose in 2015, and his Folk Alliance exclusive EP Catastrophe in 2016. He has played Folk Alliance International, Kansas City Fringe Fest, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, The Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts. Standing at 6 foot 5 inches, Arsenia’s powerful vocals span a 3.5 octave range, while playing piano, bango, guitar and harp Calvin teaches music to elementary students. Calvin is also a graduate of Artist INC.]

[Calvin Arsenia plays Greenwood Social Hall 1750 Belleview, Sun June 11, at 7:00 PM in a Solo Concert Show that will be Recorded for a later release]

[Calvin Arsenia plays KKFI Collaborations with Quixotic on June 30, The Folly Theatre.]

7. Pageant Boys – “Ease Me”
from: Shadowboxing EP / The Record Machine / May 19, 2017
[On what was originally slated to be a short trip to Istanbul, Alex Sheppard started recording music with his girlfriend’s laptop and a bluetooth headphone mic. None of Sheppard’s previous musical efforts incorporated electronics in a major way; “It was born of necessity,” says Sheppard. The songs on his new EP, Shadowboxing, came out of those original sessions. The songs are a sensual and almost effervescent approach that combine R&B elements with electronic and processed instrumentation. While in Istanbul, Sheppard established a routine in collaborating with a close friend and poet. He said they developed a fairly specific daily routine for working on music, with the intent of finishing songs, regardless of their quality. “I would wake up at 8 in the morning and start the song and get the chord structure. And then at 10, he would wake up and I would show him what I had. I’d make breakfast, and then I’d show him the melody I wanted for the vocal line. He’d go down and start writing the lyrics, we’d eat breakfast, and he’d have the lyrics written after we got done with breakfast. At 1, I’d start recording the vocals. It was a good schedule.” Sheppard has been writing and recording for the last decade even though he is just in 20’s. Before Sheppard started performing and recording as Pageant Boys he released several albums as Alexandre. Shadowboxing is the maturation of Sheppard’s artistic vision and introduction to a larger audience.]

10:25 – Pledge Break #2

10:32 – Underwriting

7. Chase the Horseman – “Modern Ruins”
from: from new recordings / Chase the Horseman / May/June 2017
[Chase the Horseman is a band, film composer, multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer, and producer. He has composed music for over 36 films and as musician has collaborated with Clairaudients, Teri Quinn, Heidi Lynne Gluck, and many more.]

[Chase the Horseman plays recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd, KCMO, on Saturday, June 10, with Nation of Language, Bedroom Wounds, Y The Ghost, and The Black Creatures.]

10:39 – Interview with Chase the Horseman

Chase the Horseman thank you for being with us on WMM.

The song “Modern Ruins” is from a new recording project you are working on for release later this year?

In February you released a digital album of 16 songs called Covers & Others, with all proceeds going to the ACLU.

“Modern Ruins” is also the name of a short film you composed the music for. You’ve composed music for over 36 films (short films and full length films.) How did you get started working in film?

Last time Chase the Horseman was on the radio show, was with Teri Ann Quinn who he helped on her debut EP recording, Moons and Meltdowns, as producer, engineer, performer.

10. Red Kate – “Urban Church” (Vinyl)
from: Red Kate – Stiff Middle Fingers split 7″ / Black Site Records / April 8, 2017
[Bassist and lead vocalist L. Ron Drunkard, Andrew Whelan – Drums/Vocals, Brad Huhmann – Guitar, Desmond Poirier – guitar/vocals. The band writes, “With the election of an authoritarian narcissist to the White House and white supremacy again on the rise, this hard, fast and angry polemic on the current state of affairs has turned out to be unfortunately prescient.” The KC based Punk Rock and Roll band, Red Kate has been rocking venues since 2007. In the review of their debut EP, The Pitch wrote, “Bassist and lead vocalist L. Ron Drunkard, (aka Shawn Saving) is a socialist activist by day, bellows like an Appalachian Roger Daltrey.”The band’s first full-length album, “When the Troubles Come” was released on Replay Records in 2013. Last year the band released their follow up full – length record, “unamerican activities,” on Kansas City’s coop record label, Black Site. Both releases were recorded and engineered by Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlab. Red Kate includes bassist and lead vocalist L. Ron Drunkard, Andrew Whelan on drums, & vocals, Desmond Poirier on guitar & vocals, and most recently Brad Huhmann left the band, and Shaun Hamontree joined the band on rhythm guitar.]

10:53 – Pledge Break #3

11:00 – Station ID

11. Krystle Warren – “Get A Load”
from: Three The Hardway / Parlour Door Music / expected Spring, 2017
[Krystle Warren was born June 13, 1981 in Kansas City, Missouri. She now lives in Paris. Krystle released the first single “Thanks and Praise” from her new album on May 22. She shared with us a few other tracks we could play. Last year in Krystle Warren premiered this song and her other new songs from this album at the Middle of the Map Fest in a packed room at Californos in Westport and later at The Polsky Theatre for the Performing arts Series of Johnsons County Community College. For this record Krystle decided to play every instrument and do all of the vocals and back up vocals. Krystle was on the show several times last year where she shared the inspirations for this record, early gospel recordings, that crossed over into Jazz fro Pharoah Sanders, Edwin Hawkins, The Swan Silvertones and more. Krystle Warren is originally from Kansas City. Krystle learned to play the guitar by listening to The Beatles albums Rubber Soul and Revolver. Krystle Warren graduated from Paseo Arts Academy in 2001 and began her musical career in Kansas City and collaborating with local jazz and pop musicians. After living in San Francisco and New York City, Krystle was signed to a French recording label, Because Music, and moved to Paris and released her album “Circles” in 2009. Krystle played numerous French and British television programs, including Later with Jools Holland, garnering critical acclaim and traveling all over the world, touring with Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, and Joan As Police Woman. Krystle created, Parlour Door Music, to release “Love Songs: A Time you May Embrace” a recording from a 13 day session in Brooklyn, where she recorded 24 songs live with 28 musicians including her band, The Faculty, alongside choirs, horn and string sections. Mark fisrt interviewed Krystle Warren on The Tenth Voice in 2002.]

12. Kemet the Phantom – “After My Money”
from: Lexus Nexus / Center of Attention / April 12, 2017
[Produced, mixed and mastered by Kemet the Phantom who wrote about this recording, “Two years ago my uncle was turned up missing from his home in Chicago. My family would have never believed the news we received on April 11, 2017, the day before his birthday. We were informed that his DNA matched that of a body that was found shortly after he was reported missing. This is my attempt to grapple with the reality that I will never see my beloved and genius uncle again. Released just a month after the release of, The Invisible Man. Kemet The Phantom’s other full length release on Center of Attention Records. Kemet Coleman is Kemet the Phantom, a Kansas City based musicians who calls himself a rap Artist, actor, and Urbanist. Kemet is a member of the Hip-Hop duo COA (Center of Attention) and is the lead singer of the 8-member Funk/Rap/Soul band The Phantastics. Kemet, shines as a complete showman embracing a James Brown-esque persona via syncopated vocals, rhythmic dance moves and dapper costume style. Kemet the Phantom is a two time Pitch Music Award nominee for “Best Hip-Hop Act.” Kemet created the first ever Kansas City mayoral candidate rap song for the Sly James for Mayor campaign in 2010. A University of Missouri – Kansas City alumnus, Kemet, created “Gold and Blue” for UMKC’s sports teams, which has garnered thousands of plays on YouTube and has been featured on prime-time television commercials for the university. More information at: http://www.kemetthephantom.com.]

[The Phantastics play Boulevardia, Friday, June 16, on the Chipolte Homegrown Stage at 3:00 pm.]

6. Broken Arrows – “To Try To Touch The Earth Again”
from: Extended Play EP / Broken Arrows / March 18, 2017
[KC/Lawrence based 5-piece band, formed by Mike Penner on lead guitar & vocals; Bill Ryan on lead guitar, keyboards & vocals; John Chevalier on bass guitar & vocals; Barry Lee on guitar & vocals; and Dave Storms on drums. Broken Arrows got together to play a Neil Young Tribute at Davey’s Uptown in 2015. They received such a positive reaction and enjoyed playing together so they decided to continue as a band. This song was written by Calvin Russell, Barry Lee sings lead vocals.This song was written and sung by John Chevalier, with backing vocals by Mike Penner and Bill Ryan.]

11:05 – Pledge Break #4

14. Of Tree – “Feel It”
from: Sorry We’re Chosen [EP] / Of Tree / June 1, 2017
[Of Tree is vocalist/guitarist Benjamin Parks and violinist Laurel Morgan who write folk music with a pop edge provided by the technology of looping and sampling. Parks’ deep vocals coupled with Morgan’s sensitive vocals, fiddle playing and dynamic layered strings take the listener deep into themselves and to, perhaps, places once forgotten. Of Tree began in 2009 and has taken many forms as it has evolved over time, including a full 5 piece folk band and, at one time, a classical trio backing Parks’ voice and guitar.]

15. Momma’s Boy – “Sleepin”
from: Liquid Courage / Independent / February 17, 2017
[Momma’s Boy is an Indie Surf Pop 4-piece band from KCMO, formed December 2015, and made up of former members of Rev Gusto: Peter Beatty on guitar & vocals, Shaun Crowley on guitar & vocals, Quinn Hernandez on drums, and Anthony Hernandez on bass. This song is also included in a new cpompilation by Justin mantooth and Westend Recording Studios called Amplify KC that also has songs from The Conquerors, Toughies, The Whiffs, The Cave Girls, Rev Gusto, and Katy Guillen & The Girls.]

11:19 – Interview with Dwight Frizzell

Dwight Frizzell, of the KC based “groovy polyphonic jazz/dance” band, Black Crack Revue, now in their 35th year, joins us to talk about The National Audio Theatre Festivals, 5th Annual, HEAR Now: The Audio Fiction & Arts Festival, June 8 – June 11, in Kansas City. Frizzell works as an assistant professor at The KC Art Institute, is a founding member of the newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, and is host & producer of “From Arc To Microchip” Wednesdays at 11:30 PM on 90.1 FM. BCR play The Brick, 1727 McGee Street, KCMO, on June 8, at 9:00 PM. More info at: http://www.hearnowfestival.org

Dwight Frizzell, Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley.

Dwight Frizzell, of the KC based “groovy polyphonic jazz/dance” band, Black Crack Revue, now in their 35th year, BCR play The Brick, 1727 McGee Street, KCMO, on June 8, at 9:00 PM.

17. Hermon Mehari– “Cold (Feat. Kevin Johnson”
from: Bleu / Unlabeled Publishing / March 17, 2017
[Debut solo release from Kansas City based jazz trumpeter. Hermon Mehari featuring Logan Richardson on saxophone, Aaron Parks on piano, Peter Schlamb on vibraphone, Rick Rosato on bass, Ryan J. Lee on drums, and a guest appearance by Kevin M. Johnson on vocals. Hermon Mehari grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, home of Lincoln University. He is a 2010 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City Music Conservatory. In 2015 he finished first, at the prestigious Carmine Carusa International Jazz Trumpet Competition at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas. Hermon was a semifinalist in the 2014 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition. In 2014 he released the CD “Our Journey” with Diverse, which was recorded in Paris featuring Logan Richardson on alto saxophone. Hermon was also the winner of the 2008 National Trumpet Competiton and placed second in the International Trumpet Guild competition in Sydney, Australia. He splits his time between touring and playing all over the world and creative projects in Kansas City. Hermon has collaborated with Cat Mahari on BAM! the Workshop, he is also a founding member of Diverse Jazz, Diverse Trio, and The Buhs. He also plays with Peter Schlamb, Making Movies, John Velghe & the Prodigal Sons. Hermon was featured on the world-renowned saxophonist Bobby Watson’s 2013 release, “Check Cashing Day”. More information at: http://www.hermonmehari.com]

[The Hermon Mehari Trio plays La Fontaine de Belleville in Paris on Sat, June 10 at 4:30 to 8:00 PM]

18. Jametatone – “Too Late”
from: Empty Bliss / J. Ashley Miller / March 21, 2017
[New EP from Jametatone, the solo project of J. Ashley Miller who also records with his band as Metatone. J. Ashley Miller is the The 2016 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award Fellow. J. Ashley Miller is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His genre-bending trans-modern work has been performed everywhere from YJ’s to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center to the MoMa PS1 in NYC. Ashley utilizes a diverse range of technologies, techniques, and collaborators to access obscure facets of the human emotional landscape. Jametatone opened all four shows last Friday and Saturday night at The Outburst KC, where Calvin Arsenia performed his 2017 Release Catastrophe Unplugged with guest musicians Beau Bledsoe, Fritz Hutchinson, Mark Southerland, and artist & vocalist Seth M. Jones. You can view more of Ashley’s work at http://www.jametatone.com.]

Marion Merritt is our most frequent contributor to WMM, She grew up in Los Angeles, and St. Louis. She went to college in Columbia, Missouri. She studied art and musical engineering, and is a avid lover of classic films and punk rock music. She saw Talking Heads on their first tour when they played One Block West, in 1978. For 13 years she has been sharing her musical discoveries and information from her encyclopedic brain on Wednesday MidDay Medley. Marion has joined us for every on-air fund drive to help raise funds for the MidCoast Radio Project. Marion is also the proprietor of Records With Merritt, at 1614 Westport Rd. in Kansas City, Missouri. More at: recordswithmerritt.com

Nico Gray has been placing the needle on the record before he was able to read and turn pages of a book. Rooted in Kansas City, and growing up in front of a radio, he is a former theatre actor, performance artist, writer, and is currently a marketing and advertising consultant, where he serve Union Station. Nico is an avid concert goer, his search for his own “Original Music Soundtrack” to his life has transplanted him to the brownstones of Chicago, the rooftops of Paris, the sea-side of Marseille and the balconies of NYC.

Marion Merritt, and Nico Gray, joined us for our Spring Fund Drive Show, to encourage our diverse and loyal listeners to call 888-931-0901, to support 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio, “The Voice of The Community.” http://www.kkfi.org/donate

Next week on June 14 Marion Merritt returns as Guest Producer to share new musical discoveries, and information from her musically encyclopedic brain. Also next week Scott Hrabko joins us to share music from his new full length release Summer.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

6. Lily Tomlin – “Obscene Phone Call”
from: This Is a Recording / Universal Records / 1971
[The album consists of comic sketches of Tomlin in her most famous character, Ernestine, the nosy, aggressive, and sharp-tongued telephone operator. The album’s tracks include monologues in which Ernestine tangles over the phone with Joan Crawford, Gore Vidal (“Mr. Veedle”), Martha Mitchell, and J. Edgar Hoover. It was recorded live at the intimate Ice House in Pasadena, California. The album, Tomlin’s first, won her a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Recording. Tomlin became the first woman to win this award for a solo recording (in 1962 Elaine May won for an album with Mike Nichols; in the years since only Whoopi Goldberg and Kathy Griffin among female comedians have won the award.) The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums list, the highest charting solo comedy album by a woman ever on the chart.]

8. RuPaul – “I Met Him on the Dance Floor (Interlude)”
from: Realness / RuCo / March 2, 2015 [RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960), best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and recording artist, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta and New York City club scenes during the 1980s and early 90s. RuPaul has on occasion performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles. RuPaul is noted among famous drag queens for his indifference towards the gender-specific pronouns used to address him—both “he” and “she” have been deemed acceptable. “You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.” He hosted a short-running talk show on VH1, and currently hosts reality television shows RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag U.]

9. Company – “Opening: I Hope I Get It”
from: A Chorus Line – Original Cast Recording / Columbia / 1975

14. The BTC Orchestra – “The Liberace Fanfare”
from: Behind The Candelabra (Music from the HBO Original Film) / Elektra / May 20, 2013
[2013 American drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh about the life of pianist Liberace and the secret affair he had with young Scott Thorson, based on Thorson’s memoir, Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace (1988). It premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2013. It aired on HBO on May 26, 2013 and won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. It was released theatrically June 7, 2013 in the United Kingdom. The film features Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorsen.]

15. Liberace – “The Impossible Dream” [Vinyl]
from: Liberace Sends You Love [3 record set] / Brookville Records – ABC Records / 1974
[Born in West Allis, Wisconsin, his career spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television, and endorsements, Liberace became world-famous. During the 1950s–1970s he was the highest-paid entertainer in the world and embraced a lifestyle of flamboyant excess both on and off stage. He publicly denied being gay during his lifetime, and sued those who said he was. Towards the end of his life his chauffeur, Scott Thorson, sued him for palimony. He died of an AIDS-related illness in 1987.]

16. Jim Nabors – “It Takes All Kinds To Make The World Go Round”
from: Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. / Sony / 1965
[Jan. 29, 2013, Hawaii News Now reported that Jim Nabors married his partner of 38 years, Stan Cadwallader, at Seattle, Washington’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Jan. 15, a month after same-sex marriage became legal in Washington. An urban legend maintains that Nabors married Rock Hudson in the early ’70s, shortly before Nabors began his relationship with Cadwallader. At least publicly, the two were never more than friends. According to Hudson, the legend originated with a group of “middle-aged homosexuals who live in Huntington Beach” who sent out joke invitations for their annual get-together. One year, the group invited its members to witness “the marriage of Rock Hudson & Jim Nabors,” at which Hudson would take the surname of Nabors’ most famous character, Gomer Pyle, becoming “Rock Pyle.” Those who failed to get the joke spread the rumor. Hudson was also gay but closeted, and because of the fear that one or both of them might be outed, Nabors & Hudson never spoke to each other again.]

10:22 – The Music from Kansas City Pride Fest 2017

17. Frenchie Davis – “Stand (By Me)”
from: Stand (By Me) – Single/ Frenchie Davis Music Group / October 9, 2015
[Franchell “Frenchie” Davis was born May 7, 1979, and is an American Broadway performer and a soul, dance/electronica, and pop singer. She first came to public attention in 2003 as a contestant on the singing competition show American Idol. Davis began performing in Rent on Broadway soon afterward, and was a member of the cast for four years. In 2011 Davis reached the top 8 on the first season of singing competition The Voice. Davis was born in Washington, DC and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from Howard University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.]

18. Betty Who – “Mama Say”
from: The Valley / RCA Records / March 24, 2017
[Betty Who is Jessica Anne Newham who was born on October 5, 1991, She is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician based in the US. She is signed to RCA Records. Who is best known for her 2016 single, “I Love You Always Forever” which peaked inside the top ten in Australia.]

Bill Svoboda serves as Producer for KC Pride Fest, June 2nd, 3rd, & 4th, at Berkley Riverfront Park under the guidance of the KC Diversity Coalition, the not-for-profit service organization that presents KC Gay Pride. Bill started his career over 25 years ago in the event planning industry working for the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce. In 2002 he started EventPros, Inc., planning Festivals, Corporate and Association events all over the country. He was one of the original producers of the KCRiverFest and the KC Marathon – Health & Fitness Expo. Bill also produces the KC Jazz Festival.
Bill Svoboda thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

The Commerce Bank Kid’s Zone: Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 6:00pm (Included with festival ticket) – All ages are welcome. Includes the Ironman obstacle course, Tinker Bell moonwalk, Dual Slide and Triple Lane Fun Run! The zone also features a face painter, balloon artist, and circus performers. Outside of the zone look for Renaissance Fair characters, the LGBTQIA Youth Hangout, and a professional kite flyer!

Gay Pride Kansas City is a mix of volunteers and board members who represent a wide cross section of the Kansas City LGBTQIA community. What motivates these individuals is their drive to offer the Kansas City LGBTQIA community great informational and educational events which move the community forward.

I think my parents had a tougher time hearing that I wanted to become a Theatre Major than when I told them I was Gay. Please know, that I believe the theatre is full of all sexual orientations, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender…just like the rest of the world. The theatre, however, is Queer friendly, accepting of LGBTQIA, it has always been a place where so many gay kids found their freedom and identity. The theatre gave gay kids their first glimpse into a world not found in their sheltered, small towns. Here in this next set is a song from Noel Coward from a album I found in my college library my freshman year. The plays of Noel Coward were captivating to me, the lyrics, wit, and diction of Noel Coward in action, is a treat.

After Noel we’ll hear Paul Lynde from the Original Broadway Cast Recording of “Bye Bye Birdie,” followed by Charles Nelson Reilly talking about his experience in “Bye Bye Birdie” while auditioning for “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Charles Nelson Reilly was playing three parts in Bye Bye Birdie winner of The Tony Award for Best Musical of 1960. How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying won the Tony for Best Musical in 1961 and Reilly won The Tony for his portrayal of Bud Frump.

10:47 – Songs about “Tots” and “Kids” and “Coffee”

19. Noel Coward – “What’s Going To Happen To the Tots”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]
[Born Dec. 16, 1899 / died Mar. 26, 1973. English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called “a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise”. Coward did not publicly acknowledge his homosexuality, but it was discussed candidly after his death by biographers including Graham Payn, his long-time partner, and in Coward’s diaries & letters, published posthumously.]

Paul Lynde

20. Paul Lynde & Marijane Maricle -“Kids”
from: Bye Bye Birdie! (Original Broadway Cast) / / 1960
[Paul Lynde’s sexual orientation was an open secret in Hollywood, although, in keeping with the prejudices of the time, it was not acknowledged or discussed in public. In a 2013 radio interview, Dick Van Dyke recalled the wrap party for Bye Bye Birdie. A series of men gave short speeches, each one praising Ann-Margret and predicting success and stardom for the young actress. When it was Paul Lynde’s turn to speak, he began, “Well, I guess I’m the only one here who doesn’t want to fuck Ann-Margret.” In 1965, Lynde was involved in an accident in which a young actor, reputed to be his lover, fell to his death from the window of their hotel room in San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel. The two had been drinking for hours before 24-year-old James “Bing” Davidson slipped and fell eight stories, an event witnessed by two policemen, yet the event was largely kept out of the press, thus saving Lynde’s career. Despite his campy television persona, Lynde never publicly came out as gay and the press generally refrained from commenting about it. In 1976, a People magazine article on Lynde featured him and Stan Finesmith; the latter was dubbed Lynde’s “suite mate” and “chauffeur-bodyguard.” In the 1970s, this was as close as the press would come to hinting at his sexuality.]

We heard Charles Nelson Reilly talking about his audition for “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” winner of The Tony Award for Best Musical in 1961. Charles Nelson Reilly would go on to star in the 1964, world premiere of “Hello Dolly,” written by gay composer Jerry Herman, who has won several Tony Awards for his musicals “Mame” and “La Cage Aux Folles.” This year “Hello Dolly” has been produced on Broadway, for the fifth time and starring Bette Midler in the title role.

One of the most diverse awards shows on television, has always been, The Annual Tony Awards, to recognize achievement in Broadway Theatre. The 71st Annual Tony Awards will take place on June 11. Hosted by Kevin Spacey, the ceremony will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, and will be televised live on CBS.

For many Queer kids growing up in rural areas, this broadcast was the biggest night of LGBT programming. Shows like “Torch Song Trilogy,” “A Chorus Line,” “Avenue Q,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “The Normal Heart,” “Rent,” “Angels in America,” “Kinky Boots,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” and “Hairspray,” are just some of the Broadway plays and musicals that tell the stories of LGBT people. The live television broadcast gave queer, theatre-nerds like me, a glimsp into the world where we could find ourselves.

On June 1982, on my 19th birthday, I remember watching television with my father as Harvey Fierstein won the Tony for Best Actor in a Play that he wrote called Torch Song Trilogy, about a gay drag-performer and his quest for true love and family. The play also won for Best Play, and I watched as producer John Glines as he made his historic Tony speech acknowledging his lover and co-producer, Larry Lane. It was a new world.

This year the 71st Annual Tony Awards will be honor nominees for Best Play: “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” starring Laurie Metcalf, Chris Cooper (who was born in Kansas City), and Jayne Houdyshell (who was born and raised in Topeka) all are nominated for Tony Awards; “Indecent,” written by Paula Vogel; “Oslo,” and the play “Sweat” which is also the winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. For Best Musical, the nominees are: “Come from Away,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Groundhog Day The Musical,” and “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.”

For Best Revival of a Play, the nominees are: “August Wilson’s Jitney,” “Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes,” “Six Degrees of Separation,” and “Present Laughter” written by Noel Coward. And for Best Revival of a Musical, the nominees are: “Miss Saigon,” “Hello Dolly.” and “Falsettos” starring openly gay actor Andrew Rannells who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and originated the role of Elder Price, in the musical “The Book of Morman,” and is nominated again this year, and is in the same category as another “Book Of Morman” veteran, openly gay actor Gavin Creel, for his role as Cornelius Hackl in Hello Dolly, a role originated by gay actor Charles Nelson Reilley, 52 years ago.

In celebration of the 2017 Tony Awards, we present a scene from Present Laughter, but not from the the 2017 production starring Kevin Kline, instead from the playwright himself Noel Coward, who wrote 38 plays, more than 300 songs, and multiple musicals, revues, and operettas. Present Laughter has been produced on Broadway four times and we’ll hear a scene from the play from a recording called, “Duologues” featuring actress Margaret Leighton, from 1957. From there, we will hear Christian Borle & Andrew Rannells, singing, “What Would I Do?” from “Falsettos,” followed by Kate Baldwin, Gavin Creel & 2017 Broadway Cast of “Hello, Dolly!” performing “It Only Takes a Moment.” All nominated for 2017 Tony Awards.

24. Noel Coward – “Present Laughter” [3 minute excerpt]
from: Noel Coward Duologues (feat. Margaret Leighton) / Caedmon Records / 1957
[Present Laughter is a comic play by Noël Coward in 1939, first staged in 1942. The plot follows a few days in the life of the successful and self-obsessed light comedy actor Garry Essendine as he prepares to travel for a touring commitment in Africa. Amid a series of events bordering on farce, Garry has to deal with women who want to seduce him, placate both his long-suffering secretary and his estranged wife, cope with a crazed young playwright, and overcome his impending mid-life crisis (since he has recently turned forty). The story was described by Coward as “a series of semi-autobiographical pyrotechnics.” In the 1970s Peter Hall wrote “what a wonderful play it would be if – as Coward must have wanted – all those love affairs were about homosexuals”. Whether or not Coward would have agreed, in the 1940s the transformation of real-life gay relationships into onstage straight ones was essential. The play nevertheless contains many references to Coward’s own life. Monica is “unmistakably Lorn Loraine”, Coward’s long-serving and much-loved secretary. Morris has been seen as Coward’s agent and sometime lover Jack Wilson, and Henry as Binkie Beaumont. Liz, played originally by Joyce Carey, is thought to be based partly on the actress herself, who was a member of Coward’s inner circle. During 1956, Coward abandoned Great Britain for tax reasons, becoming a permanent resident of Bermuda. He bought a chalet in Les Avants, Switzerland, in 1959, and that became his primary residence as of 1964, although he continued to live much of the time in Jamaica. Meanwhile, he returned to playwriting with two of his works, both billed as light comedies, playing in London: South Sea Bubble (April 25, 1956) and Nude with Violin (November 7, 1956). The latter also had a production on Broadway that Coward directed and starred in, his final appearance as an actor in New York. It opened November 14, 1957, and ran 80 performances, followed by a West Coast tour in 1958, during which it alternated with Present Laughter. Prior to that, however, Coward also had been “in New York,” as the title for a follow-up for Noel Coward at Las Vegas put it, recording the studio LP Noel Coward in New York in the fall of 1956 for release on Columbia in 1957. The same season, he and actress Margaret Leighton made spoken word recordings for Caedmon Records of scenes from his plays, plus the second act of The Apple Cart, in which they had appeared together in London in 1953. The LP Noël Coward & Margaret Leighton in Noël Coward Duologues, and after a 2nd recording session of Coward’s poetry in January 1958 came The Apple Cart & Poems by Noël Coward. In 2005, these recordings, along with other recordings of Coward’s writings performed by Simon Jones, were gathered together by Caedmon into the 5-CD set The Noel Coward Audio Collection.]

25. Christian Borle & Andrew Rannells – “What Would I Do?”
from: Falsettos (2016 Broadway Cast Recording) / Sh-K-Boom Records / December 16, 2016
[Falsettos is a musical with a book by James Lapine and William Finn, and music and lyrics by Finn. The musical consists of March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, the last two installments in one trio of one-act Off-Broadway musicals (the first was In Trousers). The story involves Marvin, his ex-wife Trina, his psychiatrist Mendel, his son Jason, his gay lover Whizzer Brown, and his neighbors Cordelia and Dr. Charlotte. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1992 and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, of which it won Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. It was revived briefly on Broadway in 2016, and this revival performance has been nominated for five Tony Awards. The 2016 production opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on September 29, 2016 in previews, and officially on October 27, directed by Lapine. Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Stephanie J. Block and Brandon Uranowitz play Marvin, Whizzer, Trina, and Mendel respectively. Other cast includes Tracie Thoms as Dr. Charlotte, Betsy Wolfe as Cordelia, and Anthony Rosenthal as Jason. The production shuttered on January 8, 2017. Two performances were filmed on January 3 and 4, 2017, to be repackaged into a presentation for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center series to be aired at a later date.]

26. Kate Baldwin, Gavin Creel & 2017 Broadway Cast of Hello, Dolly! – “It Only Takes a Moment”
from: Hello Dolly! / Sony Music Group / May 12, 2017
[Hello, Dolly! is a 1964 musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder’s 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955. Hello, Dolly! was first produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964, winning a record 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a record held for 37 years. The show album Hello, Dolly! An Original Cast Recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. The album reached number one on the Billboard album chart on June 6, 1964 and was replaced the next week by Louis Armstrong’s album Hello, Dolly! The show has become one of the most enduring musical theatre hits, with four Broadway revivals and international success. It was also made into the 1969 film Hello Dolly! that was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and won three. The role of Dolly Levi in the musical was originally written for Ethel Merman, but Merman turned it down, as did Mary Martin (although each eventually played it). Merrick then auditioned Nancy Walker. Eventually, he hired Carol Channing, who then created in Dolly her signature role. Director Gower Champion was not the producer’s first choice, as Hal Prince and others (among them Jerome Robbins and Joe Layton) all turned down the job of directing the musical. The musical, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and produced by David Merrick, opened on January 16, 1964, at the St. James Theatre and closed on December 27, 1970, after 2,844 performances. Carol Channing starred as Dolly, with a supporting cast that included David Burns as Horace, Charles Nelson Reilly as Cornelius, Eileen Brennan as Irene, Jerry Dodge as Barnaby, Sondra Lee as Minnie Fay, Alice Playten as Ermengarde, and Igors Gavon as Ambrose. Although facing competition from Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand, Hello, Dolly! swept the Tony Awards that year, winning awards in ten categories (out of eleven nominations) that tied the musical with the previous record keeper South Pacific, a record that remained unbroken for 37 years until The Producers won twelve Tonys in 2001. After Channing left the show, Merrick employed a string of prominent actresses to play Dolly, including Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Betty Grable, Pearl Bailey (in an all-black version with Cab Calloway, Mabel King, Clifton Davis, Ernestine Jackson and a young Morgan Freeman), Phyllis Diller, and Ethel Merman after having turned down the lead at the show’s inception. Two songs cut prior to the opening — typical Mermanesque belt style songs “World, Take Me Back” and “Love, Look in My Window” — were restored for her run. On January 19, 2016, it was announced that Bette Midler would play the title role in a Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!. Previews began March 15, 2017, with an opening date of April 20, 2017, at the Shubert Theatre.[23][24] This production is scheduled for a ten month run with the final performance to be that of 14 January 2018. The production is produced by Scott Rudin, directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. David Hyde Pierce plays Horace Vandergelder. Other principal casting for this revival includes: Kate Baldwin as Irene Molloy, Gavin Creel as Cornelius Hackl, Jennifer Simard as Ernestina Money, Taylor Trensch as Barnaby Tucker, Will Burton as Ambrose Kemper, Melanie Moore as Ermengarde, and[27] Beanie Feldstein as Minnie Fay. Donna Murphy will play the role of Dolly at the Tuesday evening performances beginning in June 2017.]

Kansas City based singer, songwriter, and musician, Claire Adams, has been an integral part of multiple area bands including: Claire & The Crowded Stage, Appropriate Grammar, and Hidden Pictures. With Katy Guillen the two perform as a duo called Quirk & Ruckus, and with Katy Guillen and drummer Stephanie Williams, Claire performs as a trio called Katy Guillen & The Girls, who last year release one of our favorite full length albums called Heavy Days. Katy Guillen & The Girls are on the road most of the year, on on Saturday June 10 they will play Knuckleheads with Friends! This special, one time evening will feature special guests Chris Meck on guitar, Ryan Heinlein on trombone, Alyssa Murray on keys, and Ernie Locke on harmonica. Kansas City’s very own 2017 IBC winner, Brody Buster, will be opening the show, and will also jump up for a couple tunes!The trio is launching Kickstarter campaign this Thursday for the International Blues

Ross Brown and Jerad Tomasino are co-founders of The Crossroads Flock Party. They are also members of the band Fullbloods, who last year on February 26, 2016 released one of our favorite albums of the year, “Mild West” on High Dive Records. Claire Adams, Ross Brown and Jerad Tomasino join us to discuss The 6th annual Crossroads Flock Party! this Friday, June 2, at 5:00 to 11:00 PM, at 19th & Wyandotte, in KC’s Crossroads!

Claire Adams, Ross Brown, and Jerad Tomasino, Thanks for being with us on WMM.

Performances & Installations – Pop-Up Charlie’s Big Idea – Kansas City’s favorite gilded doodle wizardPop-Up Charlie will be taking your responses to one of his burning questions and giving them life on paper. Made possible by our friendly neighbors at Missouri Bank.

Escapist Skateboarding Demonstration/Free Skate – Catch some serious skating business going down right across from the main stage starring our friends from Escapist Skateboarding. Bring your deck and this completed waiver over for a free skate!

Lucia Aerial Performing Arts – Don’t look down! Witness the spectacle of Lucia Aerial Performing Arts students as they put on three late evening performances.

Free Bike Valet- Roll up to Crossroads Flock Party like a VIP and have your bike safely stored by BikeWalkKC’s Bike Valet, made possible by Boulevard Brewing Company.

Food & Drink – Grab some street food from local food joints Mildreds, The Sundry, and The Bite, then wash it all down with beer and cocktails from the Flock Party bar, made possible by our friends at recordBar.

30. ANOHNI – “Watch Me”
from: HOPELESSNESS / Secretly Canadian / May 6, 2016
[ANOHNI is formerly known as Antony Hegarty or Antony, an English-born American singer, composer, and visual artist. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons. Anohni was born in 1970 in the city of Chichester, England. Her family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1981. In 1990, she moved to Manhattan, to study at New York University, where she founded the performance art collective Blacklips with Johanna Constantine. Entering a musical career, she began performing with an ensemble of NYC musicians as Antony and the Johnsons. Their 1st album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released in 2000 on David Tibet’s label Durtro. Their 2nd album, I Am a Bird Now (2005), was a commercial and critical success, earning Anohni the Mercury Music Prize. In 2016, Anohni became the 2nd openly transgender person nominated for an Academy Award; she was nominated for Best Original Song, along with J. Ralph, for the song “Manta Ray” in the film Racing Extinction. HOPELESSNESS, is a dance record with soulful vocals & lyrics addressing surveillance, drone warfare, and ecocide. A radical departure from the singer’s symphonic collaborations, the album seeks to disrupt assumptions about popular music through the collision of electronic sound and highly politicized lyrics. ANOHNI on vocals, beat programming, keys, piano; Daniel Lopatin on beat programming, keys; and Ross Birchard on beat programming, & keyboards.]

David Bowie

31. David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
from: A Reality Tour / ISO – Columbia – Legacy / January 25, 2010
[Recorded November 22-23, 2003, Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland. Originally written for a mooted Ziggy Stardust musical in late 1973, “Rebel Rebel” was Bowie’s last single in the glam rock style that had been his trademark. The song is notable for its gender-bending lyrics (“You got your mother in a whirl / She’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl”) as well as its distinctive riff, which rock journalist Kris Needs has described as “a classic stick-in-the-head like the Stones’ ‘Satisfaction'”.Transsexual rock artist and former Bowie associate Jayne County claims that “Rebel Rebel” was based in part on County’s own song “Queenage Baby”, which was recorded in January 1974 by Bowie’s Mainman Records, but not released at the time. The song later surfaced on the independent 2006 release Wayne County at the Trucks, and some critics, upon hearing the track, echoed County’s claims. The 2004, live version features David Bowie – vocals, guitars, stylophone, harmonica; Earl Slick – guitar; Gerry Leonard – guitar; Gail Ann Dorsey – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on “Under Pressure”; Sterling Campbell – drums; Mike Garson – keyboards, piano; Catherine Russell – keyboards, percussion, acoustic guitar, backing vocals. A Reality Tour was a worldwide concert tour by David Bowie in support of the Reality album. The tour commenced on 7 October 7, 2003 at the Forum, Copenhagen, Denmark continuing through Europe, North America, Asia, including a return to New Zealand and Australia for the first time since the 1987 Glass Spider Tour. The tour grossed $46,000,000, making it the ninth-highest grossing tour of 2004. At over 110 shows, the tour was the longest tour of Bowie’s career. Bowie played Kansas City, May 10, 2004, at Starlight Theatre. I was there, seven rows from the stage.]

32. Lou Reed and John Cale – “Small Town”
from: Songs For Drella / Sire – Warner Bros. / 1990
[Dedicated to the memory of Andy Warhol, their mentor, who had died unexpectedly in 1987. Drella was a nickname for Warhol coined by Warhol Superstar Ondine, a contraction of Dracula and Cinderella, used by Warhol’s crowd. The song cycle focuses on Warhol’s interpersonal relations and experiences, with songs falling roughly into three categories: Warhol’s first-person perspective (which makes up the vast majority of the album), third-person narratives chronicling events and affairs, and first-person commentaries on Warhol by Reed and Cale themselves. The songs on the album are, to some extent, in chronological order.]